Council In the News Index

Don’t Lower Goal (Boston Herald)

By Boston Herald Editorial Staff  |   Monday, May 3, 2010  | 

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education should not wimp out and lower the goalposts for achievement by Massachusetts students, as a board task force has suggested.

The issue is how many students should at least reach the “proficient” category on MCAS tests. The federal No Child Left Behind law calls for students everywhere to reach that level (as defined by their states) in 2014, but this goal is likely to be downgraded when the statute is renewed.

The board task force here suggests a goal of 85 percent reaching proficiency by 2020, a totally unwarranted slacking off.

Chris Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and a former board member, aptly described the task force conclusion as meaning “that a large segment of Massachusetts students simply are not up to the challenge.” We share his assessment that such a judgment is “wrong and unfair,” as shown by the success of MCAS in raising achievement.

Last year 79 percent of all 10th-graders were rated proficient or advanced in English and 75 percent in math, which represented gains of 18 points and 14 points since 2003. Yes, there are gaps in the scores of minority students: Among African-Americans, 62 percent were proficient or better in English and 51 percent in math.

The tools given administrators in last year’s legislation for turning around failing schools are aimed at those score gaps. The board needs to push use of these new powers.

Commissioner Mitchell Chester commented that “all students can achieve at high levels” and immediately added, “Setting this goal is the right thing to do.”

Well, 85 percent is a long way from “all” and 2020 is a long way off. Setting this goal is the wrong thing to do.