October 7, 2024 - Two prominent business organizations representing a diverse group of business leaders today announced their opposition to Question 2, which would eliminate Massachusetts' only common, statewide academic standard for high school graduation.
The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), which drives economic equity and prosperity for Massachusetts to achieve inclusive growth through advocacy, programming, and strategic partnerships that enable Black-owned businesses and Black communities to thrive, stated the ballot question would leave no common benchmark to gauge whether students are ready to graduate.
“It is imperative that we equip our young people with the knowledge and information they need to be successful in this workforce, along whichever postsecondary path they choose,” said Nicole Obi, the group’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Absent an alternative mechanism to gauge our students’ learning to ensure they are on track with their peers, BECMA does not approve removing the MCAS graduation requirement as it would create too much ambiguity for employer firms who are looking to hire competent employees.”
The Alliance for Business Leadership (ABL), a coalition of business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals at all levels who believe that social responsibility and economic growth go hand in hand, stated that the graduation requirement ensures that all students are measured by the same standard regardless of zip code.
“We have a shared commitment to a more equitable society for all. As such, we believe that it is vital that all students achieve the academic and educational proficiency necessary to succeed in career and in life, regardless of the postgraduate choices they make,” said Andrea Silbert, ABL’s Board Chair. “While we believe the state’s current system of assessing student achievement, the MCAS, can and should be improved, we are opposed to the elimination of its use as a graduation requirement absent an alternative. Question 2 does not replace the assessment. A common assessment of some form is necessary to ensure that all students are being supported in achieving the standards needed for success and for providing certainty to businesses needing to hire a strong workforce. Therefore, we are opposed to passage of Question 2 on this year’s Massachusetts state ballot.”
John Schneider, Chair of the Protect Our Kids Future: NO on Question 2 campaign, said that eliminating the statewide graduation standard will effectively weaken the proficiency we expect students to meet, and that is disastrous for both employers and students.
“Employers in Massachusetts understand the importance of maintaining high standards in education - not only to provide an educated workforce for our growing industries, but also to provide equal opportunities for students from every community across Massachusetts to fill the jobs our companies are creating,” Schneider said. “Without a statewide standard for graduation, our public education system could easily fall back into mediocrity.”
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