BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The class of 2022 won't have to take or pass the MCAS to receive their diplomas, after a vote from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The board voted on Tuesday to remove the "competency determination requirement" for the ELA and Math-based exam following a presentation on the measure from Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley.
There was some back and forth discussion about removing the requirement, but ultimately all board members opted to forgo the requirement for the class of 2022. Tuesday's vote was preliminary, which will be followed by a formal vote in June.
Associate Education Commissioner Daniel Anderson cited that incoming seniors haven't had enough opportunities to prepare for the test, because of cancellations prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision comes after the board removed the requirement for the class of 2021 last year, also citing the Covid-19 pandemic as the main cause.
Some education officials in the state have been continually pushing to remove the testing requirement altogether -- arguing that standardized testing like the MCAS only highlight inequities among students in terms of race, class, etc.
Gov. Charlie Baker's administration has said however that the exams are a good tool to see where students may have fallen behind during the pandemic.
WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|iHeartmedia App
Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Getty Images)