AFT Massachusetts members are taking action to get out the vote for Kamala Harris for President in battleground states and in support of Yes on Ballot Question 2 in Massachusetts.

This November’s election will be critical to preserving our hard fought rights and victories, like ensuring all workers benefit from the strong labor protections we’ve won over the past century, and giving people in every industry a voice on the job through the ability to join a union.  

A YES vote on Question 2, would end the misuse of the MCAS test as a graduation requirement. Students would still take the MCAS and the test would be used as an assessment tool, but passage would no longer be a requirement to receive a high school diploma. This change would align Massachusetts with 42 other states that don’t require a standardized test for graduation.

Massachusetts is one of only eight states that require students to pass a high school graduation test in order to receive a diploma. As a result, educators are forced to narrow our curriculum to the passing of a single test, and hundreds of students each year are denied a diploma despite meeting all other academic requirements. But a ballot initiative on this November’s statewide ballot could change that.

“Passing Question 2 will allow educators to spend less time teaching to the test, and instead focus on teaching real-world skills including hands-on learning, creativity, critical thinking and working well in a group, which are essential to success in college and the workforce,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “That’s important for all students, and especially for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities and students for whom English is their second language, who are especially harmed by the MCAS graduation requirement. Too often, our highest-need students miss out on deeper, more meaningful learning because they’re forced to spend extra hours on repetitive test prep. Question 2 will allow educators to prioritize students’ unique learning needs to ensure they meet state standards, rather than denying them diplomas at a critical juncture in their life.”