Suspend MCAS 2020
Please add your voice to tell MA officials that MCAS should be suspended this year!
In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) State of Emergency, Citizens for Public Schools and education advocates call on Massachusetts officials to cancel this year's MCAS tests. The U.S. Department of Education has already said it will reconsider testing mandates for this year.
While standardized tests have never been an adequate measure of student learning, tests in a time of pandemic cannot possibly measure student learning with any validity.
Let teachers and students focus on staying healthy and problem-solving to sustain our education system and not have to worry about test prep. Test-related funding that can be re-allocated should be spent on more urgent relief for schools and vulnerable students at this critical time.
P.S. (added March 19): We are particularly concerned about the fate of high school seniors who have fulfilled all local graduation requirements but have not passed one or more of the three MCAS exams (ELA, math, science) required for graduation.
Given the COVID-19 crisis and the statewide school closure, it will be difficult if not impossible for such students to meet this requirement before the end of the school year. This will have a disproportionate impact on students with disabilities and English learners.
Under these circumstances, we call on state officials to waive all MCAS graduation requirements for this year’s graduating class.
By filling in the form to the right, you will be sending your message to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education, the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education, the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, and the Chairs of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Education.
Thank you for taking action!
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