Council will recommend new vision for setting high school graduates up for success

Boston - On the heels of her State of the Commonwealth, Governor Maura Healey has signed an Executive Order to establish a Massachusetts K-12 Statewide Graduation Council to be led by the Secretary of Education and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Council will include a broad range of stakeholders, including students, parents/caregivers, educators, school counselors, labor, education advocacy organizations, higher education representatives, legislators, and the business community. The Council will be tasked with making recommendations on how Massachusetts can ensure that all students graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in college, careers, and civic life, regardless of their background or location, and demonstrate these qualities through a consistent statewide set of expectations.??

“Massachusetts has the best schools in the country, and we want to stay that way,” said Governor Maura Healey. “To keep this high standard of excellence, I believe that students, families, schools and employers should know exactly what a diploma earned in Massachusetts represents. We’re excited to bring together a broad group of stakeholders to make recommendations for a new high statewide standard.”

“We believe that a high, statewide standard for high school graduation is important to promote equitable education opportunities for all students in Massachusetts, particularly for historically marginalized students,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I look forward to the robust recommendations this Council of diverse stakeholders will develop to ensure that every student in our state graduates with the skills and knowledge to be successful.”

“Massachusetts has an opportunity to bring the definition of what it means to graduate from high school to new heights, ensuring that all students are equipped for today’s workforce and postsecondary education opportunities,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I look forward to engaging with this Council, particularly students, to continue and expand our efforts to reimagine high school.” 

"Students, families and educators need a strong signal about whether students are ready for college and a career after high school," said Russell D. Johnston, acting commissioner of elementary and secondary education. "The work of this council will be critical to redefining a shared understanding of what that should look like."

“Massachusetts must establish a standard graduation requirement to ensure that every student, no matter where they live, is prepared to succeed after graduation,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I'm grateful to Governor Healey for her focus on fostering equal access to quality education across the state, and I look forward to reviewing the Council's recommendations.”

“A uniform graduation standard across districts ensures equitable learning opportunities for all students. I commend Governor Healey for establishing this council to ensure that the Commonwealth does not return to the pre-1993 days of low expectations for our high-needs students, and I look forward to reviewing its recommendations,” said Assistant Majority Leader Representative Alice H. Peisch (D-14th Norfolk).

The Council will hold regional listening sessions to gather feedback directly from communities. Recommendations will be presented to the Governor and Legislature after engaging in the following key areas:

• Review current practices across the country and assess existing local variations in graduation requirements.?
• Gather feedback from diverse stakeholders, including students, families, educators, administrators, higher education experts, the business community, and the public.?
• Consider what skills and knowledge Massachusetts students need to thrive in college, careers, and civic life, including exploring potential course requirements, examinations, and alternative methods of demonstrating student achievement.

Council members, or designees, include:

• Speaker of the House of Representatives
• President of the Senate
• Minority leader of the House of Representatives
• Minority leader of the Senate
• Massachusetts Teachers Association
• AFT-MA
• Boston Teachers Union
• Massachusetts School Counselors Association
• Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
• Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
• Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association
• Massachusetts Association of School Committees
• Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association
• Teacher representative
• Public school student representative of Governor’s Youth Advisory Council
• Public school student representative from State Student Advisory Council
• Three additional geographically diverse public school students identified by the co-chairs
• Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges
• State Universities Council of Presidents
• Commissioner of Higher Education
• Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education
• Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
• Massachusetts Business Roundtable
• Non-profit organization whose work involves access to postsecondary opportunities
• Five additional representatives appointed by the co-chairs on behalf of the Governor who shall represent a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, including experience with the education of students with disabilities and English learners

Statements of Support:

Jessica Tang, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, President:

“For Massachusetts schools to thrive, they need a more supportive and inclusive assessment system – one that takes into account the district-specific needs of our students and schools. An effective system would be able to identify strengths and weaknesses and offer guidance on how to improve educational processes. It would provide schools in need with support and guidance, not punishment and funding cuts,” said “Bringing stakeholders together to enact solutions is an important step towards educational equity in the Commonwealth, and that is something educators have spent decades fighting for. We look forward to working with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and this new Council to ensure all students in Massachusetts are meeting the standards we know are critical for success after high school and beyond.”

Mary M. Bourque, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents:

"The Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) applaud Governor Healey’s decision to create a Statewide Graduation Council. We are eager to contribute to the development of more comprehensive graduation requirements that better reflect the knowledge, skills, and competencies our students need to succeed in both the workforce and the world they will enter. The time is now to act for the benefit of our students and their future." 

Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy:

“One of the MTA’s goals in ending the harmful MCAS graduation requirement was to open a statewide conversation about how we best educate our young people to become future citizens, neighbors, parents, and workers.?During the ballot campaign, we heard valuable insights from across the state about what residents want from our schools and how to best resource schools and evaluate their success.? We look forward to participating in a council that intends to take seriously public involvement.? With students and educators freed from the constraints of a high-stakes standardized test, now is the time to ensure that every student is able to have a rich and rewarding high-school experience grounded in our state’s high academic standards.”  

Doug Howgate, President, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation:

“Massachusetts must have a consistent, rigorous, equitable, and accountable statewide standard for high school graduation to ensure that all students get the education they deserve and that prepares them for success in work and life.?For our communities and our economy to prosper, we have to maintain and enhance the state’s standing as the nation’s K-12 education leader and we cannot do that with a patchwork of graduation requirements that vary from school to school and that exacerbate achievement gaps. I want to thank the Governor for including MTF on this Council and we look forward to the work ahead.”