Educators in Massachusetts say the MCAS high school graduation requirement is disproportionately affecting English language learners, the fastest growing student population in the state.

Failure to pass the required English, math and science tests means students do not receive a diploma, which can limit future college and career opportunities.

Kellie Jones, director of bilingual education for Brockton Public Schools, called it a barrier to students' civil rights.

"They're being identified as failures by the state," Jones contended. "I don't see English language learners as failures."

Jones noted a proposed ballot initiative for November would ask voters to keep the tests in place but allow students who fail to still receive a diploma if they have passed their required courses. Opponents of the measure, including Gov. Maura Healy, argued it would lead to a lack of uniform standards statewide.

Massachusetts is one of only eight states still requiring students to pass a standardized test to earn a diploma. Roughly 700 students fail each year and the vast majority are English learners and students with disabilities. Many have had their education experiences interrupted and face housing and food insecurity.

Jones pointed out their MCAS scores fail to reflect the challenge of mastering a new language as well as academic content on a limited timeline.

"If the students are not yet proficient in English, they may not have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge on this assessment," Jones explained.

Jones added there is a critical shortage of qualified teachers to handle the influx of English learners who have arrived over the past year. A report from the Annenberg Institute notes the number of students who never pass the MCAS is likely to increase as more arrive and a higher passing threshold for the English test takes effect in 2026.

Classroom supplies are taking a toll on teachers in North Carolina.

A new survey showed despite earning around 5% less than they did a decade ago, North Carolina teachers are spending the fourth-highest amount in the country on school supplies.

Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said teachers are dipping into their own pockets due to insufficient state funding for instructional materials.

"Educators in North Carolina are spending about $1,300 of their own money, $400 more than the national average," Walker Kelly pointed out. "We continue to see that rise amongst our educators here in the state. "

She noted the association is urging state legislators to invest in school supplies and reinstate the state's Tax Holiday to help teachers and parents save money. There have also been calls from Attorney General and Democratic nominee for governor Josh Stein to introduce a plan to reduce back-to-school costs.

Walker Kelly emphasized the rising expenses are coupled with low teacher salaries. North Carolina, currently ranked 38th in average teacher pay, is projected to drop to 41st by the 2024-25 school year, according to the National Education Association.

She contended financial pressures have led to staffing shortages, which ultimately affect students' learning experiences.

"We know that our state Legislature could make that investment," Walker Kelly asserted. "That's why we are continuing to advocate for that because we see record numbers of educators flee to South Carolina and to Virginia and to Georgia because of that $10,000 pay difference."

She also highlighted the issue of salary stagnation for veteran educators with 15 or more years of experience. The top salary on North Carolina's teacher pay scale is just over $61,000, which teachers reach after 25 years. Between years 15 and 24, there is no growth in pay, leaving veteran teachers without raises for nearly a decade.

Funding is coming to a program supporting students from low-income families in Washington state who want to go on to college or postsecondary education.

The GEAR UP program has received a 35 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the next seven years of operation. GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

Marcie Mills, GEAR UP director for the Washington Student Achievement Council, explained the rationale behind the program.

"When you come from a low-income family or a family that doesn't have that college going experience, navigating that process can be really difficult," Mills observed. "So, the desire is there, the interest is there, but they won't necessarily know or understand the steps that it takes to achieve that."

GEAR UP has been in operation since 1999. It supports students starting in seventh grade through their first year of postsecondary education. The program helps about 6,800 students each year, according to the Washington Student Achievement Council.

Eligible students can receive up to $800 in scholarships. Mills pointed out the program provides a range of services and her office has found which services have the greatest effect.

"We provide college visits, we include family members in that whenever possible, we provide a lot of workshops during the school day," Mills outlined. "We definitely provide financial aid information and counseling to students and families."

Mills noted GEAR UP is focusing on 13 rural school districts with funding to hire staff who work with students and families and the program will provide technical support.

"Our small rural districts really are so under resourced compared to the larger districts, who also have needs," Mills acknowledged. "But in comparison, quite often a rural school might not even have a full-time counselor."

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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Texas educators spent the summer in meetings and workshops devising a playbook for the upcoming Texas legislative session.

The Educator's Bill of Rights contains 10 issues based on feedback from K-12 and higher education employees.

Alejandro Pena, government affairs specialist for the American Federation of Teachers-Texas, said they are taking their concerns directly to lawmakers.

"Playing defense is not enough because you might prevent bad things from happening," Pena observed. "But things will never get better if positive change is not realized."

The top five issues educators are concerned about include reasonable working conditions, fair wages, secure retirement, quality child care and a healthy, safe and secure working environment.

Security tops of mind following this week's mass shooting at a Georgia high school. In a survey of educators last year gun violence prevention was the top priority among 11 community and social justice issues.

Pena noted House Bill 3, which requires an armed security guard to be on every school campus in the state, is considered by many educators as an unfunded mandate.

"The legislature only provided $15,000 per campus and a measly additional 28 cents per student for school districts to comply with this requirement," Pena pointed out. "Whereas it's been found that the cost of hiring an armed security guard can be anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000."

Last year, the state of Texas had a $33 billion budget surplus but funding for public education did not increase. The next legislative session starts Jan. 14.