BOSTON — On Election Day, Massachusetts voters made a significant decision to eliminate the state’s standardized tests as a requirement for high school graduation, aligning with a growing movement that has progressively reduced the reliance on high-stakes testing over the past twenty years.
This recent ballot initiative now leaves only seven states that mandate graduation exams, a figure that may decline further in the future.
Criticism of standardized testing has intensified, largely due to concerns that such exams consume too much classroom time and do not accurately reflect students’ readiness for post-secondary education or careers. The backlash has gained momentum in light of equity issues and learning disruptions attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Massachusetts, the campaign against maintaining the graduation requirement was spearheaded by a teachers’ union, which argued that the policy unfairly prevented numerous students from obtaining their diplomas and negatively impacted educational choices. Support for keeping the requirement was bolstered by influential business figures such as former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and state leaders, including Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat.
“We shouldn’t have disparate expectations for students based on their zip code,” Healey expressed. “The standards should be uniform and ambitious for all our students and their families.”
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests evaluate students in areas such as mathematics, science, technology, and English. Although the ballot question stripped the graduation requirement from these exams, it did not eliminate the tests themselves, which will still be utilized for tracking student progress. Consequently, approximately 700 students, or about 1% of high school seniors each year, will no longer be denied a diploma solely due to MCAS failures, with many of those affected being English language learners or students with disabilities.
Other states may also consider similar moves away from graduation testing. In the mid-2000s, 27 states had requirements for passing exams to graduate, according to findings from education organizations. Currently, the states that still impose such requirements are New York, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia.
Recently, New York state officials proposed a strategy to phase out the exit exam criteria as part of a broader revision of graduation standards. Although students will continue taking the Regents exams in core subjects, starting in the 2027-28 school year, passing scores will no longer be necessary for graduation. This proposal suggests alternatives for students to showcase their proficiency, such as community service or capstone projects.
In Florida, a bill to remove high school testing requirements passed the Senate but has yet to gain traction in the House. New Jersey’s efforts to eliminate its graduation exam saw success in the state Assembly last year, but the Senate did not advance the initiative.
Ohio mandates that students pass assessments in various subjects to graduate, while Louisiana has similar requirements but lacks an appeals process. Texas students are expected to pass end-of-course exams in subjects including algebra and biology.
The debate over how to assess student readiness continues. Harry Feder, executive director of FairTest, which opposes standardized testing as a graduation criterion, stated that it is reasonable to move away from exams he deems a “cheap and easy way” to evaluate education.
“What we truly seek in high school graduates cannot be effectively assessed by a standardized test,” he noted, emphasizing important skills like critical thinking and teamwork.
Opponents of this shift argue that relaxing graduation standards will lower overall educational quality. “The rejection of the MCAS requirement showcases the unions’ influence in Democratic-leaning states and could reduce Massachusetts diplomas to mere tokens of participation,” remarked Michael Petrilli, president of the conservative Fordham Institute.
The campaign to abolish the graduation testing requirement in Massachusetts received substantial backing from teachers’ unions, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association, which collectively contributed millions in financial resources. In contrast, Bloomberg’s substantial donation of $2.5 million was aimed at preserving the graduation testing mandate.
Leaders of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Max Page and Deb McCarthy, expressed that educators have voiced their opposition to the standardized testing requirement for over a decade, stating, “Students who excelled in their classes were still denied diplomas due to this obstacle. Educators were compelled to limit their curriculum to prioritize preparation for these high-stakes tests.”
Ultimately, Massachusetts voters favored the repeal of the MCAS graduation requirement, achieving a decisive 59% to 41% majority.