October 9, 2024 - Today, Protect Our Kids’ Future: No on Question 2 released two new campaign ads to help educate voters about the impact that passing Question 2 would have on K-12 education in the Commonwealth.
The first ad features a public school parent discussing how vital the statewide graduation standards are to ensuring a bright future for her kids. The second ad reminds voters that Massachusetts has the best schools in the country because of our high standards and warns that Question 2 would gut those standards, leaving Massachusetts with lower standards than states like Mississippi and Alabama.
The first ad showcases public school parent Keri Rodrigues. “I have three sons, six, seventh, and eleventh grade. I grew up in the last generation of kids before MCAS was mandatory,” Rodrigues says. “You had kids who were functionally illiterate. I don't want that for my kids. We need to check every year to make sure that they are on the right path to success. The end goal of all of this is economic mobility to make sure that they are going to have a bright future. Now, there's an effort to weaken these standards. I don't get it.”
The other is a 15-second ad that includes photos of teachers, parents, and students and argues that Question 2 would “gut” our state’s education standards. “Teachers, parents, and students agree: Vote No on Question 2. Massachusetts students attend the best-ranked schools. But Question 2 will gut our education system and leave us with lower standards than Mississippi and Alabama.” The ad concludes: “Protect Our Kids Future: Vote ‘No’ on Question 2.”
"Eliminating Massachusetts' only statewide graduation requirement will leave some students behind and increase inequality,” John Schneider, Chair of Protect Our Kids Future: No on Question 2. “Some districts will inevitably adopt lower standards so more students graduate, even if they haven't actually learned the knowledge and skills they’ll need in math, science, and English to succeed. This will impact kids for the rest of their lives.”
The new ads also highlight the recent endorsements of The Boston Globe Editorial Board and the Boston Herald Editorial Board.
Notable figures support a No vote on Question 2, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, Massachusetts Speaker of the House Ron Mariano, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, former Secretary of Education (under Governor Patrick) Paul Reville, and former Secretary of Education (under Governor Baker) James Peyser. All have publicly opposed Question 2.
Protect Our Kids’ Future: No on Question 2 is a broad coalition of teachers, parents, education advocates, elected officials, and business groups. Its goal is to preserve educational standards for students and ensure equitable academic opportunities for all kids across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit our website at votenoquestion2.org or follow us on social media on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
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