Wakefield Unlikely To See ‘Profound Effect’ From MCAS Changes: Supt.

WAKEFIELD, MA — A state move this week to increase the minimum MCAS scores required to graduate high school likely won’t negatively impact Wakefield, Superintendent Doug Lyons told the School Committee on Tuesday.

Still, Lyons acknowledged various concerns about the decision, noting ongoing questions about how the state will roll out what could be a major change for various districts and students across the state.

“You can’t simply raise scores and the outcomes are going to match,” Lyons said. “You have to kind of change something on the front side to get something to change on the backside.”

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met in Malden on Monday, where they ultimately approved the MCAS changes to take effect for the high school class of 2026.

Minimum scaled scores will rise from 472 to 486 on English language arts exams to match the current math minimum of 486. Minimum scores for students with educational proficiency plans will jump from 469 on math exams and 455 on English exams to 470.

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley first pitched the change, citing research in saying that students who score at or near the current passing thresholds "are not well prepared for postsecondary success."

The proposal drew opposition, however, with more than 200 letters criticizing the changes coming to the board.

Representatives of the Massachusetts Teachers Association were in attendance on Monday to voice their opposition, citing concerns about disproportionate impacts that the new threshold could have on certain students.

Complaints have also focused on lost learning during COVID-19 arguing that this is not the time to up the pressure on students and teachers.

In Wakefield, Lyons said average MCAS scores already hover between 507 and 510.

“Because we are kind of above the state average and the curve, I really don’t think it’s going to have a profound effect in Wakefield,” he said of the new changes.

He noted comments from this week’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting, though.

“The $100,000 question is ‘How are you going to raise support so students can meet these expectations?” Lyons said. “There’s a lot to this.”

Lyons said the district will discuss MCAS scores and recent changes in further detail when personnel come back before the School Committee in the future for a planned report on MCAS performance.