Advocacy in Action

Protect Our Kids’ Future: Vote No on 2 Campaign Launch

MHTC Policy & Advocacy Updates from Elizabeth Mahoney

In December, the Council’s Board of Directors voted to oppose this ballot initiative put forward by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which would eliminate the requirement that Massachusetts high school students pass a standardized test in order to receive a diploma and instead yield to more than 300 district graduation standards across the Commonwealth.

The Council has been a vocal supporter of the statewide high school graduation standard represented by passing the grade 10 MCAS test since it was established in the 1990s. We believe this proposal would endanger Massachusetts’ standing as a national leader in education and put the state’s economy at a further competitive disadvantage.

The Council is committed to defeating this ballot question, taking a leadership role in the ballot committee, and discussing these efforts at each of our board meetings.

Protect Our Kids’ Future: Vote No on 2 launched its campaign with two ads, one featuring a public school teacher and the other featuring a parent of public school children. The media campaign begins with a six-figure ad buy on digital platforms.

James and Jill, who are featured in the first ads, represent the real concerns that teachers and parents have about removing this key education standard and lowering expectations for kids across Massachusetts.

“It’s not fair to our kids and it jeopardizes their futures,” says Jill, a Public School Parent.

Protect Our Kids’ Future: Vote No on 2 has also launched a website at votenoquestion2.org, and accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).

Protect Our Kids’ Future is proud to be building a growing, broad coalition of teachers, parents, education advocates, elected officials, and business groups formed to defeat this misguided ballot question. Opponents of Question 2 include Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, Massachusetts Speaker of the House Ron Mariano, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, former Secretary of Education (under Governor Patrick) Paul Reville, and former Secretary of Education (under Governor Baker) James Peyser.

The campaign has an ambitious fundraising plan to complete its first phase, which includes a significant early digital campaign. Raising early resources will ensure the campaign can continue its aggressive digital campaign through the rest of the summer as well as increase its advertising buy in September to include broadcast and cable television ads, direct mail, and texting before vote-by-mail starts in early October.

Governor Healey and former Governor Baker have both agreed to assist the campaign with its fundraising efforts.

Here’s how you can help:

• Share the press release and ads (Jill and James) with your network and let them know why you are supporting the campaign
• Follow the campaign on social media and share and repost information on your own accounts (Instagram, Facebook, and X)
• Consider making a contribution to the Protect Our Kids’ Future committee and asking others to do the same
• Consider convening a briefing with your network where campaign leaders will present our strategy and ask attendees for direct support

If you are interested in learning more or would like to help ensure the campaign has the resources it needs to be successful, please contact me at elizabeth@mhtc.org.