By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Boston, MA) Senator Jo Comerford is working on a four year pause to MCAS testing that she hopes will help minority students stay afloat during the pandemic. Currently in Massachusetts a public school student who does not pass the required MCAS test receives a certificate of attendance instead of a diploma. That student cannot attend community college or get a job where even a basic high school diploma is required. Comerford is worried that black communities and lower income communities who already have a disparate impact from COVID-19 will suffer more if they are required to take and pass the MCAS test for graduation. Comerford said she hopes her legislation will take the burden off of the students and the schools and give them some ability to focus on healing after COVID-19.