Mass Parents.Org: Suspend MCAS Petition
This petition can be downloaded and printed out. Click " File,"
then " Save As" on your
web browser, and save it in a directory where you can later retrieve it. Or block, copy,
and paste the text into a word processor.
For the electronic form of the petition, click here
Fall 1999
Dear Friend of Public Education:
We are parents, teachers and students who support the provision of an excellent
education to fully develop the talents and skills of every child in the Commonwealth. This
requires fiscal resources, trained personnel, and an enlightened educational program that
recognizes that all children can learn at a high level.
Unfortunately the recent imposition of the high stakes MCAS test by the State Board of
Education is undermining our children's opportunity for such quality education. The test
was introduced by a small group appointed to the State Board of Education by Governors
Weld and Cellucci, unrepresentative of the parents, teachers and students in the
Commonwealth's public education systems.
The MCAS test:
 | Violates the 1993 Education Reform Act, which calls for "A variety of
assessment instruments." |
| Narrows and restricts curricula. |
| Burdens teachers and students with an extremely lengthy test regime (longer than the
Mass. Bar exam). |
| Devalues technical, linguistic, musical, athletic and vocational skills. |
| Introduces obstacles to disadvantaged students. |
| Will force high schools to deny diplomas to deserving students. |
| Discriminates against public school students, since private and parochial students
are exempt from the MCAS requirement. |
We ask you to consider signing the attached petition, and to circulate copies to your
friends, neighbors and school associates. In addition, if you are interested in supporting
boycott efforts contact us at the address below. Our actions can influence both municipal
officials, as well as the candidates for State Representatives in the fall of 2000. The
legislature has the authority to eliminate the MCAS test and direct it to be replaced with
a system of multiple assessments tuned to the needs of our children.
In Wisconsin, parents organized against high stakes tests and the Legislature altered
the requirement.
Sincerely,
Cambridge Parents Against MCAS
Coalition for Authentic Reform of Education
**************
Please copy, circulate and distribute widely.
Petition to Our Elected Officials: Suspend MCAS
We, the undersigned parents, students, teachers, and educators support the provision of
an excellent education that will fully develop the talents and skills of every child in
the Commonwealth. We therefore call on local and state elected officials to take immediate
action to suspend use of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test in
our public schools. The legislature should instruct the State Board of Education to carry
out the spirit of the 1993 Education Reform Act, including:
Name:__________________________________________________________________
Street:__________________________________________________________________
Town:__________________________________________________________________
School/grade_________________________parent/teacher/student/concerned citizen
Phone:______________________________email:_______________________________
Name:__________________________________________________________________
Street:__________________________________________________________________
Town:__________________________________________________________________
School/grade_________________________parent/teacher/student/concerned citizen
Phone:______________________________email:_______________________________
Name:__________________________________________________________________
Street:__________________________________________________________________
Town:__________________________________________________________________
School/grade_________________________parent/teacher/student/concerned citizen
Phone:______________________________email:_______________________________
Return to: CARE, 342 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139-1802
For more information contact petition@massparents.org
