After voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots to eliminate the requirement that high school students pass the MCAS exam in order to receive a diploma, the question of whether the state will pursue a new statewide standard in the exams’ place — and what, exactly, that would look like — looms over the upcoming legislative session. Education insiders said this week that conversations about implementing new education standards in wake of Question 2’s passage are already happening, and those who had campaigned against the initiative are pushing for an urgent solution. Gov.
Maura Healey, who opposed the MCAS question, told reporters last week that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will further update regulations. “It’s time for us to continue what, frankly, was started before the election, which was to figure out the new path forward, and what is the new model for a really uniform standard,” Healey said. “Because, again, my position is we shouldn’t have different expectations for students depending on which ZIP code they’re in.
There should be a uniformity to our expectations.” She continued, “We’re going to do that in discussion with, and in collaboration with a range of stakeholders. So more to come on that.
” Last week the governor said that the voters had spoken on the issue — though she left the door open to legislative changes. “The voters have spoken on this and I think what’s important now is that [the Department of Elementary.
