On May 20th, Division V of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), working alongside collaborating Divisions I, IV, VI, and VII, is pleased to present A Briefing on Funding and State Graduation Standards (Virtual 6-7pm EST)
School committees across the Commonwealth could be facing a perfect fiscal storm of budgeting with the additional issue of new state graduation and mastery standards. As districts face difficult Proposition 2/1/2 overrides, and as small and rural districts confront budget and funding issues, on another front, the state is moving forward with a possible new graduation framework that could involve new course requirements, testing that might be state-scored, and undermine the goals of Question 2 (2024) that stopped use of the high-stakes graduation test.
School Committee members should welcome the opportunity to hear about their options, the ongoing work of the “Graduation Commission”, and to learn how the decision-making process could disempower local districts at the expense of more authority for the state.
We are hosting a briefing session for school committee members to learn more and begin to consider strategies to make the next generation of accountability more reasonable before recommendations are sent to the legislature or the Governor for action.
Join us on May 20th at 6pm for a one-hour virtual program to gain an insider’s view of these developments and how we can advocate for our students at the State House.
Featured Speakers:
Jessica Corwin, MASC Rural Schools Committee: On the front lines of the unique fiscal and operational challenges facing our small and rural districts.
Jason Fraser, MASC Representative on the Graduation Commission: Providing an update on the current deliberations and the push for more rigid, standardized graduation requirements.
When: 6-7pm on Wednesday May 20, 2026
Where: Zoom link sent in email confirmation
Brought to you by Division V, alongside collaborating Divisions I, IV, VI, and VII.