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Parent Starts Petition Drive Against MCAS Graduation Requirement

Saturday, February 1, 2003 -- GRANBY - Requiring all students to pass the MCAS tests to graduate from high school is unfair and arbitrary, according to parent Wayne Masse.
So Tuesday, at 7 p.m., in the Granby Junior-Senior High School cafeteria, Masse, of Morgan Street, will kick off a petition drive to force a ballot referendum on the MCAS graduation requirement.

"In my opinion, it's not the best way to raise the standards of education," Masse said. "I'm afraid some kids are going to be left behind."

He is particularly concerned about special education and vocational students, Masse said.

"It's asking them to perform to the state's standards instead of being allowed to perform to their own standards," he said.

But he said a big part of his push is prompted by the fact that state residents never voted on the sweeping educational changes that came with the Educational Reform Act and MCAS.

"This is a democracy. Lets let the people decide," Masse said.

He realizes the road to place a binding referendum on the ballot will be a bumpy one, Masse said, but he hopes to generate a lot of grassroots enthusiasm for the measure. He is aiming for the Nov., 2004 state election.

Masse said his son, a senior at Granby Junior-Senior High School, passed the tests.



— Stephen Hill
Granby parent targets MCAS
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Feb. 1, 2003
http://www.gazettenet.com/02012003/schools/3976.htm

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