Please Thank the Legislators Who Endorsed Question 2 and Share Our Next Steps!

The historic passage of Question 2 in November 2024 made clear that the people of Massachusetts are demanding a public education system that maintains the Commonwealth’s high standards, is centered on real teaching and learning, and that prepares all students to thrive upon high school graduation and throughout their lives.

The MTA is grateful to the more than 60 members of the Massachusetts Legislature who joined educators, parents, students and community members in fighting to move the Commonwealth closer to this shared vision for public education. Now, as we enter a new legislative session, we are asking you to contact those legislators to thank them for their support during the campaign and to let them know that educators are counting on them to continue to be champions for public education by supporting HD.1731/SD.698, An Act to Ensure that All Students Are Prepared for Future Success.

This MTA-backed legislation builds on our Question 2 victory by expanding access to the rigorous MassCore program of study and creating a special commission to study and make recommendations on more holistic and accurate methods of assessing students that align with the skills and knowledge that we all want our students to learn and develop.

Specifically, this legislation will:

  • Require MassCore as a statewide program of study for high school students beginning with ninth graders in the 2027-28 school year. Currently, 83.7% of high school students already complete MassCore, which is highly rigorous and consists of 22 total units of English, mathematics, science, history, a world language, the arts and additional elective courses.  
  • Ensure that MassCore courses continue to be aligned to the Commonwealth’s high educational standards, while also making clear that local school districts and educators continue to able to use their expertise and professional autonomy in designing and administering teaching that is in line with those standards.
  • Establish a comprehensive process to implement MassCore that will include soliciting public input; developing waivers by which certain students may be exempt from MassCore; ensuring that students have flexibility in selecting courses that satisfy MassCore; and requiring the Commonwealth to provide the funding necessary for school districts to implement MassCore before the new requirement can take effect.
  • Create a MassCore Advisory Council consisting of educators, parents, students and community members with expertise in public education that will work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on all matters related to MassCore implementation and administration.
  • Convene a Special Commission on assessments to identify the skills and knowledge that Massachusetts wants our students to develop and examine ways to more accurately and effectively assess students. The commission will engage in a robust public process as it completes its work, including by holding at least five public meetings and administering a statewide survey.

This legislation is the next step in achieving our goal of a public education system that truly prepares all students for success in the future. Again, please email legislators who endorsed Question 2 to thank them for their support during the campaign and to urge that they co-sponsor HD.1731/SD.698, An Act to Ensure that All Students Are Prepared for Future Success.

Sponsored by