The Massachusetts Association of School Committees position paper on MCAS testing as a graduation requirement is now on line at:
http://www.masc.mec.edu/MCASPositionPaper.html

In addition, you can read the AP wire story about the MASC paper at:

AP wire, 12/4: School committee group urges high MCAS stakes be put on hold
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/339/region/School_Committee_group_urges_h:.shtml

ALSO at: New Bedford Standard-Times, 12/5: http://www.s-t.com/daily/12-00/12-05-00/a03sr020.htm

Boston Herald, 12/5: Local school officials oppose using MCAS as graduation requirement
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/mcas12052000.htm

Daily Hampshire Gazette, 12/5: Association urges MCAS delay
http://www.gazettenet.com/12052000/schools/32517.htm

Diagnostic tests should be used to assess student abilities, but using exam results as the sole graduation requirement is
inappropriate and unfair, according to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
In a position paper being released this week, the group urged lawmakers to hold off on attaching high stakes to the
hotly-debated MCAS exam until research can be done to analyze its impact on students......
...... "There are so many elements to Education Reform that you don't need to go overboard by holding kids to a single
instrument to graduate to get everyone's attention," said Glenn Koocher, head of the MASC. "You've already put the fear of
God into principals, administrators, teachers and parents. Isn't that enough?" 
The group voted overwhelmingly in favor of at least temporarily removing the graduation requirement at its annual meeting last month. Members of the Boston and Worcester school committees both opposed the decision......
...... Still, Boston School Committee chairwoman Dr. Elizabeth Reilinger said she expects to see dramatic improvements in 2001, when results of the first exam taken by students required to pass are released.  "It's human nature. If there isn't a consequence, people don't take it seriously," she said. "Postponing the graduation requirement would be like coming down the home stretch and deciding to pull out of the race." .....
...... "I think firmly that a single, high-stakes test as a graduation requirement is unfair and should command the public's attention," Koocher said. "The MCAS has an important part to play, but using it this way will prove to be more unfair as we
get closer to the point of no return." 



Anne Wheelock
wheelock@shore.net