Former Education Secretary James Peyser Urges ‘No’ on Question 2, Citing MCAS as Key to Maintaining Massachusetts’ High Educational Standards

Photo- americaachieves.org/staff/jim-peyser/

James Peyser, former Secretary of Education under Gov. Charlie Baker, is part of the coalition that is urging voters to vote No on Question 2. Question 2 deals with eliminating the MCAS graduation requirement. A no vote means you wish to keep MCAS. Peyser called in to Talk of the Commonwealth and argued that removing MCAS will lead to inequality in our school system and that Massachusetts needs to maintain its high standards. Peyser takes us back to 1993 and the legislation that he says put the state in a stronger position for K-12 learning. A key part was the ability to have a common yard stick, the same base line to make sure students are progressing along with their peers regardless of their zip code. MCAS goes to their being consistency in what a diploma from Massachusetts means when it comes to educational standards. Passing the tenth grade MCAS assessment means not scoring in the lowest category, if you do test in the lowest category, you may continue to take the test over again and there are appeal methods. The purpose of the test is to make sure that you can get the extra help, if needed, in your Junior and Senior year. Peyser says MCAS in addition to all the other reforms helped raise Massachusetts to #1 from #10 in the country within a decade of implementation.