But supporters of the exam say a standardized test covering state-wide frameworks will force districts to rethink languishing curriculum.
"The reason the MCAS came [about] is because school districts weren't performing," says school committee member Alfred B. Fantini.
Supporters like Fantini say the test is flawed and should not be the sole determiner of high school graduation. But they say the test was established to address the very issue that opponents say MCAS exacerbates: inequity.
"The whole test was established because there are gaps in achievement," says school committee member Joseph G. Grassi. Cambridge is "a primary example of why the state developed MCAS."
And while some opponents say the test is biased, supporters maintain that it provides a balanced yardstick to measure performance.
The exam is "fair to minorities, because now you have to teach everybody," says Emma Stickgold, a CRLS senior and a member of the student school committee.
Let the Test Rest
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