In this testimony to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Andrea Wolfe, President and CEO of Mass Insight Education & Research, advocates for maintaining high academic standards and objective, common measures of student readiness in the state's graduation framework. Expressing concern over recent declines in 10th-grade MCAS scores and participation following a ballot initiative, Wolfe highlights that standardized assessments serve as vital equity safeguards—particularly for students of color and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who rely on honest data to remain on track for college and career success. Consequently, she strongly endorses the Governor’s K-12 Graduation Council's recommendation to integrate end-of-course assessments that meaningfully count toward a student's graduation requirements.
Massachusetts Board of Education Meeting: May 19, 2026
