Dear Neighbor,
In December, I wrote about Governor Healey's Graduation Council's Interim Report. After voters passed Question 2 by almost 3-2, eliminating MCAS as a graduation requirement, districts have been allowed to set their own graduation standards. Healey (who opposed that elimination) established a Graduation Council to propose replacements for the test as a graduation requirement.
Right now, I'd like to invite you to virtually attend and contribute to a conversation about the graduation requirements. On Monday, March 16 at 7 pm, Citizens for Public Schools and MTA Retirees Against High-Stakes Testing are hosting a discussion of the governor's proposals, and a report on what they learned from educators, parents, students, and others in forums around the state. There'll be breakout rooms where you can share your thoughts.You can register here.
Here, briefly, are the governor's council's proposals:
1. All students must complete the MassCore set of courses. MassCore consists of 22 year-long college prep courses - a few more than you'd need to go to UMass. 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of social studies, 3 of science, and so on. There are a few exceptions, for example for vocational students.
2. All students must take end-of-course standardized exams. They haven't said how many or which courses. They'd be created and scored by the state, but we don't know how the scores would affect graduation.
3. All students would complete capstone projects or portfolios. The state would "define" the projects; the districts would "design and score" them.
4. All students would develop career and academic plans.
5. Students would fill out the federal financial aid form for college, or the state equivalent. But they could opt out.
6. Financial literacy.
7. Students could earn special seals for their diplomas to mark extra achievements, but those would not be required.
I'm hoping to write more soon about what we really want graduates to be able to do. Also about the work of the Mass. Consortium on Innovative Education Assessment in developing better ways to measure student learning and school quality. And some great examples from Winchester Public Schools, Somerville's Full Circle School, and 4H
I'll also be writing more about homelessness, rent stabilization and other issues.
Quote of the week: "The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money." - Donald Trump
PJ asks: Who's "we?"
Song of the week: The Hungry Giant
(the president has shifted his attention to the Middle East, but I've really wanted to share this about Greenland. Even though it's AI.)
Stay in touch,
Pat Jehlen