As election day quickly approaches, local voters are considering Massachusetts Ballot Question 2, a measure that would repeal the requirement that students earn a passing score on tenth-grade Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams to graduate high school.

Supporters of the ballot measure argue that the changes will help address inequities in graduation outcomes and free teachers to focus less on test prep and more on knowledge and skills not captured by standardized exams. Obtaining a diploma would depend on meeting each school district’s local academic standards and course requirements instead of passing the MCAS tests.

Opponents argue that this change would undermine the effectiveness of the MCAS as a tool for measuring student progress and lead to uneven and inequitable expectations for student success across the state’s more than 300 school districts.

Join us for an informative discussion with education leaders on this issue.

This forum is in conjunction with the Partnering in Education Research (PIER) Public Seminar Series.

Host

• Martin West, Academic Dean and Shattuck Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Speaker

• John Papay, Associate Professor of Education and Economics and Director of Annenberg Institute, Brown University

Panelists

• Max Page, President, Massachusetts Teachers Association
• Patrick Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Event Attendance & Registration

Askwith Education Forums are accessible, free, and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Registration is required. On-site registration will be available.

Seating is first-come, first-seated. Once Askwith Hall reaches capacity, guests will be redirected to overflow seating. We recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes early for seating, to engage with the community, and to enjoy light refreshments before the Forum.

Note: This is an in-person event and will not be livestreamed. A recording of the event will be posted on the Harvard Education YouTube channel after the event.