How Could MCAS Rules Influence Current and Former Students Across Massachusetts?

Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor

W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News

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Image Source: ABC6

Dighton, Massachusetts – For the first time in over two decades, high school students in Massachusetts would no longer pass the standardized test to graduates. Residents voted yes to remove the MCAS exam requirement in November 2024.

Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Runey explained to ABC6 that he condicted the matter.

“I understand the logic of it,” Runey said. “I was hoping that it would remain as one of the competency determinations for graduation, because if something is optional for students, they don’t always take it as seriously.”

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam became a graduation requirement in 2003. Recently passing this form of standardized test would be no longer required to graduate. Runey explained that former students are now eligible to get their diplomas.

“Anyone from 2003 to 2024 who did not get their high school diploma because of their MCAS requirement, they can reach out to us,” said Runey. “We will gladly do an audit of their transcript.”

Runey explained if those students passed the local curriculum they needed to with the expectation of MCAS, Dighton–Rehoboth would provide them diplomas. The school committee would convene several times over the following couple of weeks before the policy allowing the diplomas to be addressed is now approved. 

“The discussions at the policy subcommittee have been positive thus far, so I’m very confident that it’s going to pass,” Runey said.

As for how the change would influence current students, the superintendent reported that there were discussions about the curriculum. Runey notified that many teachers addressed to him that the MCAS requirement constrained them.

“They were limited by the information that they had to make sure they were preparing the students for,” said Runey. “Sometimes that handcuffed their creativity in the classroom. I think what we’re gonna see as an eventual aspect of this new mindset is that the creativity of our teachers in those MCAS subjects is going to expand.”

The problem is continuous substance, according to Runey, who asked leaders around Massachusetts to talk about the appropriate practices above this upcoming graduation season.