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Intiating Change in the High Stakes MCAS Science Exam
effort led by Jonathan King and Melissa Kosinski-Collins On May 26, 2005, Jonathan King, Melissa Kosinski-Collins and several other Massachusetts science educators held a press conference at the Massachusetts State House encouraging the Mass Board of Education to veto the proposal to make the experimental science MCAS exam high stakes. The press conference was arranged by several members of the Massachusetts Congress in collaboration with ParentsCARE, a state-wide organization composed of parents, teachers, and educators concerned about reformation in the Massachusetts public schools. Following this press release, the group met with president of the Senate Travilgini and discussed their concerns on the pending high stakes vote. Jonathan and Melissa then testified at the Department of Education's monthly meeting on June 28, 2005. Although several public testimonies pointed out serious flaws in the science MCAS exam, the Board of Education voted to pass the high stakes status of the exam 6 to 1. Both Melissa and Jonathan will continue to push for reform of the exam from a multiple choice, memorization-based exam to a more project-based assessment.
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