Education Department Sets Temporary Graduation Standards in Massachusetts
Massachusetts education officials have established new graduation standards, temporarily replacing the MCAS exam, which voters recently removed as a graduation requirement. In an 8 to 1 vote, the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved that students graduating in 2026 must complete coursework in English language arts, math, and science through grade 10, with U.S. history added in 2027.
While students will continue to take the MCAS assessments, their scores will not serve as a graduation requirement except in limited circumstances. The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education expressed disappointment, arguing that the new standards do not go far enough to ensure student competency. Furthermore, the teachers’ union voiced strong opposition, labeling the continued limited use of MCAS scores as an inadequate compromise and a setback for student learning.
The Massachusetts K-12 Statewide Graduation Council has until July 2026 to provide a final report on updated graduation standards, which will then enter a legislative review process. This interim decision aims to establish uniformity in graduation requirements while the debate over assessments continues.
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