Massachusetts public school students must pass standardized tests in order to graduate high school. Question 2 in the 2024 election asks voters to end or keep that requirement.
From what I’ve been told, the test itself will still be given and used for gauging such things. It just won’t be a requirement for getting a HS diploma anymore. If that isn’t correct, I’d love to learn more. I’ve had a hard time coming to a decision on this one.
Agreed that I’m having a hard time deciding where I am on this one. They could use the test to do that kind of thing, but not making it a requirement for graduation takes away the teeth, and I’m not sure how its going to be enforced going forward. The prop just kind of implies that the particulars would be decided after the vote, but I would feel better about it if the question of “How do we prevent harm to under privileged students who have been historically neglected” wasn’t an afterthought. It feels a bit… Well… Neglectful.
My spouse is a teacher who has focused their career on underprivileged students in a variety of schools - charter, low SES, yuppie. They strongly support question 2. I can’t lay out a detailed argument for it, but I trust that it’s going to remove yet another hurdle from those struggling in school (and those already overburdened while teaching), and is not a significant loss to education quality.
From what I’ve been told, the test itself will still be given and used for gauging such things. It just won’t be a requirement for getting a HS diploma anymore. If that isn’t correct, I’d love to learn more. I’ve had a hard time coming to a decision on this one.
Agreed that I’m having a hard time deciding where I am on this one. They could use the test to do that kind of thing, but not making it a requirement for graduation takes away the teeth, and I’m not sure how its going to be enforced going forward. The prop just kind of implies that the particulars would be decided after the vote, but I would feel better about it if the question of “How do we prevent harm to under privileged students who have been historically neglected” wasn’t an afterthought. It feels a bit… Well… Neglectful.
My spouse is a teacher who has focused their career on underprivileged students in a variety of schools - charter, low SES, yuppie. They strongly support question 2. I can’t lay out a detailed argument for it, but I trust that it’s going to remove yet another hurdle from those struggling in school (and those already overburdened while teaching), and is not a significant loss to education quality.