Kudos to the Northampton School Committee for their unanimous vote to support passing the Thrive Act, Bill S. 246/H. 495 to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement to get a high school diploma.

It would be gratifying to have other school committees to consider and follow Northampton School Committee’s lead to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement in order to receive a high school diploma. Show that they have the best interests of the schools within their district and support the students by carrying out their responsibility as professionals elected to this position.

I tried several contacts to the Easthampton School Department and no one seemed to know the answers to my question. “Has the Easthampton School Committee considered to support the elimination of passing MCAS tests in order for a student to earn a diploma?” I was directed to email the Easthampton School Committee; therefore, I can only hope they will consider this guest column as my contact to them. 

As a retired teacher of 36 years grades 7-12 I experienced the stress, frustrations and anxiety by students and their parents when they are informed that their child(ren) must pass these required MCAS tests in order to be presented with a diploma at their graduation. Instead, they are punished and can only receive a Certificate of Completion of high school.

When MCAS teaching came along, classroom teachers no longer taught the classroom curriculum, they were now teaching to the MCAS materials. It was all based on passing the MCAS, lesson plans were changed and classroom atmospheres were strained.

Rather than considering the students’ achievements throughout their high school years with an average GPA score to meet graduation requirements, why deprive them of a diploma by not passing a MCAS test? The negative impact of not passing one of the MCAS tests is immeasurable in how much it impacts a student who maintains an average or higher GPA. Also, think about those students on Individualized Education Plans; low esteem sets in and they feel defeated no matter how much they tried to pass. Then to wait 4-5 months to get the results of MCAS scoring is atrocious, the scoring process needs to be more efficient with quicker tests results.

Use these MCAS tests as a measurement not a punishment by taking away the diploma they earned by achieving in their classroom curriculum versus not passing one MCAS test. Test if you must, but don’t penalize students by taking away a diploma well earned by fulfilling high school curriculum requirements.

I urge school committees, parents and concerned community citizens to contact the following people to support Bill S.246/H.495 to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement in Massachusetts:  Jo.Comerford@maseate.gov, 617-722-1532; James.hawkins@mahouse.gov, 617-722-2013; Samantha.Montano@mahouse.gov, 617-722-2460. 

Bonnie Harrison lives in Easthampton. 

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