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Board hears support for end-of-course assessments as part of graduation framework
Summary
An education nonprofit and DESE leaders discussed the graduation council's recommendations, endorsing end-of-course assessments to ensure a diploma reflects meaningful preparation and to provide families with objective readiness data.
A Mass Insight official and DESE leadership framed the board’s graduation work as central to student preparation and urged adoption of end-of-course assessments as part of the statewide graduation framework.
Andrea Wolf of Mass Insight said objective, comparable assessments — including end-of-course measures — are essential safeguards that help families and educators understand whether students are prepared for postsecondary options. Wolf warned that diminished MCAS participation and scores among 10th graders after a recent ballot initiative risk weakening those objective measures.
Commissioner Pedro Martinez and DESE staff described the graduation council’s recent work and said final recommendations would be released soon. Martinez said the council’s proposals reflect a desire for a rigorous sequence of high school courses, stronger advising and use of assessment data to ensure students master material early in their sequence. He noted the council’s recommendations align with proposals for 4 years of math, 3 years of lab science and expanded advising and seals to recognize student attainment.
Both the commissioner and Wolf emphasized the need to pair any new graduation requirement with supports for access to rigorous coursework and advising so students across districts can meet the standards.
