In Massachusetts, the state governor, Maura Healey, is initiating a statewide council focused on establishing new graduation requirements following a recent voter decision to eliminate standardized tests as a mandatory criterion for high school graduation. This announcement was made during Healey’s state of the Commonwealth address on Thursday evening.
The council will comprise various stakeholders, including educators, representatives from colleges, employers, and students, who will collaborate to devise future recommendations for the graduation process. Until now, Massachusetts students had to pass these comprehensive exams to obtain their diplomas. While the recent ballot decision does not abolish the tests entirely, it has officially removed the stipulation that students must pass them to graduate.
With this change, Massachusetts becomes one of only seven states that still require graduation exams, a number that may soon decrease further. Although prepared remarks indicated that Healey respects the voters’ choice, she emphasized the collective obligation to ensure that every student graduates equipped to thrive in their future endeavors. She stated, “We need a high, statewide standard. Students, families, and employers need to know what a diploma represents. And without that baseline, it’s always the most vulnerable students who don’t get what they need.”
Healey expressed her commitment to evolving Massachusetts’ educational model to enhance high school excellence and align high standards with ample opportunities. She highlighted initiatives like the Early College and job training programs that aim to support students in their transitions.
The push to remove the standardized testing requirement was significantly backed by a teachers’ union, which argued that these tests were hindering too many students from earning diplomas and negatively impacting curriculum decisions. Leaders from the Massachusetts Teachers Association welcomed Healey’s announcement, expressing optimism that the public engagement process will cultivate a shared vision for education that benefits all students while upholding the state’s academic benchmarks.
Furthermore, Jessica Tang, the president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, mentioned that they look forward to collaborating with Healey’s administration as they work towards establishing a new, genuinely equitable assessment system that serves the needs of all students and schools throughout Massachusetts.
