Governor Maura Healey has signed an executive order to establish a new council tasked with recommending new high school graduation standards for Massachusetts. The move comes after voters repealed the MCAS graduation requirement last November.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has taken steps to establish new high school graduation requirements following the repeal of the MCAS ( Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) mandate last November. Healey signed an executive order Friday to create the K-12 Statewide Graduation Council , tasked with proposing new standards by the end of the year. The council will consist of educators, teachers, students, parents, advocates, and business leaders.
Their mission is to analyze best practices from other states, examine current district requirements, and determine what Massachusetts students should know and be able to demonstrate upon graduation. This could involve required coursework, exams, or performance-based assessments.Healey's move comes amidst concerns that the absence of a statewide graduation standard might lead to disparities in diploma value and academic expectations across different school districts. Critics, including Healey herself, feared that schools might adopt vastly different graduation criteria, diminishing the significance of a Massachusetts high school diploma. To address this, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued interim guidance to school districts. The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), the state's largest teacher's union and a key force behind the MCAS ballot measure, welcomed Healey's initiative. They expressed support for the public process and emphasized the importance of ensuring all students benefit from high academic standards. The MTA plans to advocate for a bill creating a commission to study educational ideas and implement a mandate for Mass Core, the state's current recommended course of study. Meanwhile, State Rep. Michael Lewis (D-Holyoke) introduced legislation Friday that would establish a similar advisory council to guide the Department of Education in developing a standardized program of study for all students. This program would largely align with Mass Core, aiming to provide clarity and consistency in the types of courses offered across Massachusetts high schools
Massachusetts High School Graduation MCAS Governor Healey Statewide Graduation Council Education Standards
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