On Nov. 5, Massachusetts will vote on a ballot initiative that proposes to eliminate the MCAS as a part of the statewide standard we have for high school graduation. This is a bad idea. 

As a parent and a former public-school teacher and principal, I know that if this measure is approved, the result will be unfair and unequal educational outcomes.  That is why my organization, Boston Schools Fund, has joined a growing coalition of educators, families, and community leaders to urge voters to vote ‘No On 2’ in November.  

We can’t go backwards.  Question 2, if approved, would make us one of only two states that do not have a statewide graduation standard.  That would leave us with 300-plus sets of graduation requirements, one for each individual school district.  Such variance inevitably leads to inequality.  We could be handing diplomas to students who cannot pass basic assessments in math, English, or science, rather than working alongside them to help them to learn and meet those standards.

I am not naive; no one likes tests.  Which is precisely what makes them an easy target for proponents of this initiative, cynically capitalizing on something they see as unpopular.  For all their imperfections, I have administered countless assessments – including the MCAS –  because I understood I needed some way to know how my students were doing, hold them all to the same objective standard, and give more help to those I thought were struggling.  

Question 2 is really about fairness.  Today in Massachusetts, a high school diploma means the same thing no matter where you live or where you go to school.  The alternative – offering different things to different children and families – is fundamentally wrong.  This is the exact kind of thinking that Massachusetts rejected more than 30 years ago with the passing of the Education Reform Act of 1993, which was designed to make public education more equal in the Commonwealth.  That bipartisan compromise of more funding and high uniform standards is what has propelled Massachusetts to be a national leader in public education.

Because Massachusetts has one set of standards for graduation – which includes a passing score on the 10th grade assessment – we make the same promise to each child and family: Massachusetts public schools will prepare you for college and career.

Research indicates that this is not just a promise - it is a fact. Reports from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University clearly show that there is a direct correlation between Massachusetts students’ performance on 10th grade assessments and their future earnings.  What is remarkable about this finding is that it is true regardless of a student’s race or income status. 

I know firsthand that education policy is complex, and it takes time, engagement, and expertise to get it right.  We should be constantly improving public education in Massachusetts, whether it is funding, standards, or assessments.  A ballot initiative does not do this work justice.  We should not be changing important education policies with a single vote, particularly in this case, where voters won’t know what the high school graduation requirement would be replaced with. 
I urge you to vote no on Question 2 on Nov. 5 and commit to the work that will truly protect our kids’ futures.

Will Austin is the founder and chief executive officer of Boston Schools Fund, a lifetime resident of Boston and a graduate of the Boston Public Schools.