By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Boston, MA) A bill has been field in partnership with the Massachusetts Teachers Association to pause MCAS testing in Massachusetts. The bill looks to pause MCAS testing in light of the impacts of COVID-19 on public education. Senator Jo Comerford filed the bill to reduce the burden on teachers and students during the pandemic.
”Returning to learning in the fall, in whatever form, will require complex planning, safety precautions, and possibly dramatic changes to pedagogy and curricula,” said Comerford on a recent social media post about the bill. “As our students and teachers do the tireless work of learning recovery and re-building community engagement and trust, pressure-filled high-stakes testing should be the very last thing on their minds.”
Comerford’s concerns include in inadequacy of at home learning, continuing public health concerns that will impact the Fall semester, and social and emotional impacts of the pandemic on student’s ability to learn.
”Research has demonstrated that statewide assessments like the MCAS essentially demonstrate social, racial, and economic inequality,” said Comerford.
The new bill aims to pause MCAS for four years and establish a statewide commission and local task forces to evaluate alternative learning approaches and the state’s approach to goal setting.