Earlier this month, Massachusetts took a significant step backward in its commitment to education and student success by repealing the requirement for high school students to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System to earn their diplomas.
The decision to abandon this standard reflects a growing trend across the country to lower the bar on accountability in education — a shift that allegedly promotes equity but actually harms students, especially those most in need of support.
For decades, MCAS has provided students, families and educators with an objective measure of student achievement, ensuring that graduates meet essential academic standards before pursuing employment, enlistment or postsecondary education opportunities.
The MCAS graduation requirement has been a foundational element of Massachusetts’ success, driving one of the nation’s most respected education systems and setting a high bar for students. By removing this requirement, we are diluting the value of a Massachusetts diploma, sending students into the next phase of their lives less prepared and less competitive.