Massachusetts sez kids should know stuff
by Eric Lindholm, July 7th, 2005 at 11:51pm
Ever since the Massachusetts Department of Education demanded that a high school diploma mean something (i.e. a minimum ability to read and write) the Bay State teachers union has been fighting against any kind of objective measurement of achievement. Funny thing: now that high-school students understand they can’t receive a diploma without passing the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) test, more of them are doing so. From the Boston Globe: “More high schoolers are passing MCAS tests”:
More high school students than ever before are passing the MCAS exams required to graduate, even before they reach senior year, the state Department of Education announced yesterday.
About 90 percent of students in the Class of 2006 have passed the English and math tests of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System after three tries. Their passing rate outpaces each senior class since 2003, when passing the MCAS exam became a requirement to earn a high school diploma. By contrast, 81 percent of seniors in the class of 2003 had passed the tests before their senior year began.
The MCAS represents an inflexible benchmark of the minimum requirements a student must have to receive a diploma. Bravo to the Bay State for standing up for principle.
Entry Filed under: Education
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