A high-profile campaign has been launched against a ballot question in Massachusetts that seeks to remove the standardized test MCAS as a graduation requirement. The campaign, called Protect Our Kids’ Future: Vote No on 2, is backed by wealthy businessmen, local chambers of commerce, and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. The group is concerned that removing the MCAS requirement would lower the education standards in Massachusetts, as it is the only statewide standard in place.
On the other side, the Massachusetts Teachers Association is advocating for students’ graduation to be based on their school’s local requirements instead of standardized testing. With just over 90 days until the election, both sides are gearing up for a costly battle, with reports indicating that the union has already spent over $1 million.
Protect Our Kids’ Future has launched a $250,000 digital ad campaign against the ballot question, featuring testimonials from a mother of a child with ADHD and a teacher, among others. Top contributors to the campaign include prominent figures such as Raymond Stata, Robert Rivers, and former Chair of the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Paul Sagan.
Supporters of maintaining the MCAS requirement argue that it keeps Massachusetts schools competitive and maintains high standards of education. The campaign is expected to intensify in the coming months as both sides try to sway voters in November.
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