We, the members of the Northampton School Committee, voted unanimously at our Sept. 12 meeting to endorse a “yes” vote on Ballot Question 2 and the elimination of the state test, MCAS, as a graduation requirement. We submit to you the entirety of our statement on which we voted yes to yes.

Whereas access to a high-quality, publicly funded education is a guaranteed right written into the Massachusetts Constitution; and

Whereas an effective public education program meets the needs of students who present a variety of abilities and learning styles; and

Whereas a successful system of public education nurtures and supports students and offers opportunities for growth along a continuum that begins in preschool and extends through higher education; and,

Whereas the goal of public education is to teach students how to be critical thinkers, engaged citizens and lifelong learners; and

Whereas the introduction of high stakes standardized testing through the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System has undermined the most important goals of public education; and

Whereas, the use of MCAS has restricted curriculum and narrowed the focus of education in our public schools and does not take into account the unique learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses of individual students, and thus does not provide an accurate picture of their abilities; and

Whereas, the use of MCAS creates a stressful and anxiety-provoking environment for students, which can negatively impact their performance and mental health; and

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Whereas, MCAS testing has unjustly targeted communities with underfunded public schools for state takeovers that have failed to improve student performance; and

Whereas the use of MCAS perpetuate and exacerbate existing inequities in education by favoring students from privileged backgrounds who have had access to better resources, while disadvantaging students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and

Whereas, using MCAS testing as a high-school graduation requirement has prevented or delayed countless students from earning a diploma, either interrupting or derailing education or career plans; therefore, be it

Resolved that Northampton School Committee urges the passage of Question 2 ending the use of MCAS tests as a graduation requirement and for purposes of placing school districts or individual schools into state receivership.

Don’t forget to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5.

Gwen Agna, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Holly Ghazey, Kerry LaBounty, Ann Hennessey, Margaret Miller, Karen Foster Cannon, Emily Serafy-Cox, Aline Davis, Michael Stein

Northampton School Committee