In this issue of News You Can Use About Our Schools:

  • What's your MCAS story? When students, teachers and parents share their MCAS stories, it shows they're not alone and helps build power. Will you share your story?
  • Tell legislators to fully fund schools and count every student. Click here to send your letter.
  • Upcoming events include an MCAS Opt Out Rally and a Facebook livestream on K-12 funding and the state budget.
  • Please donate what you can to keep CPS fighting for education justice.
Share Your MCAS Story to Inspire and Empower Others
If you are a parent or educator, please send us your story about MCAS this year. Stories are powerful ways to build a movement and push for change.

During a pandemic, we all knew MCAS would not provide any useful information. And we knew it would add to the stress our students and teachers have experienced. 

The stories are starting to pour in. One parent wrote: "Today my daughter texted me from school in a complete panic, crying. She realized she will not pass her 10th grade MCAS math. This from a high achieving student who just struggles with math. My heart was crushed. What on earth are we doing to these children?"

Another said: "First day of MCAS at my child’s school. We’ve opted out. We feel there is an overemphasis on standardized testing in today’s public schools & would prefer not to be a part of it during a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic."

What's your story? You can email it to me here. We'll share stories on our blog, Life Under MCAS, and on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. (Note: We'll only use your name with your permission.)

And please sign our Opt Out petition if you haven't already!
Take Action: Tell Legislators to Count Every Student and Fully Fund Schools
CPS is working with our partners in the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA) to fight for full funding of K-12 public schools. Thank you to everyone who sent letters to your legislators asking them asking them to use realistic enrollment estimates in the state education budget. Gov. Baker wants to assume - based on zero evidence - that the pandemic has permanently cut public school enrollment. That lets him budget less funding for schools.

Many legislators say they've gotten these letters, and they encouraged us to keep pushing for full funding of K-12 schools, using the 2019 pre-COVID enrollment numbers to ensure students and schools receive the adequate funding and resources for the fall. If you haven't send your letter, please help by:

  • sending a letter here and
  • spreading the message by forwarding this email to three friends.
Upcoming Events
Rally in Quincy to Support Opting Out. Thursday, May 13, 3:30pm. Why is the state requiring educators to waste precious learning time giving tests that will yield meaningless results? Come to a rally to support opting out and hear from educators and parents. Merrymount Park, near the fountain. 1 Merrymount Pkwy., Quincy. Learn more and RSVP here.

Every Student Counts! K-12 Funding and Budget. Thursday, May 13, 6:30-7:30pm. Fully funding K-12 schools is the right thing to do. Now more than ever, a state budget based on pre-pandemic enrollment numbers is key to ensure that every student is counted and receives adequate funding when they return to the classroom this fall.

Join the conversation and learn more about the current budget, the process, and how to take action via this Facebook livestream here.
Please note that our address is 11 Beacon St., Suite 722, Boston, MA 02108.
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Citizens for Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) organization. A voice for public education since 1982.