MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) is an unnecessary test that started in 1998 due to the 1993 MA ed reform act that students attending public schools in Massachusetts are required to do. It stresses students out more than they are already stressed this year, and it doesn’t even reflect the student’s abilities and/or make changes to their grades.

        Children in grades 3 through 12 must take the MCAS test and often must spend 3 hours or more on their computer taking this test that doesn’t even affect their grades. If kids have finished the test before the time is up, they are not permitted to complete unfinished work they may have to complete.  While students are able to read, it is still ridiculous that they can’t do schoolwork. 

        I personally believe that MCAS should be banned. Not only are students stressed by the upcoming tests, but MCAS also causes unnecessary stress on many teachers. Instead of this unnecessary stress to teach children what will be on the MCAS test, I believe children would get a lot more out of a teachers' own creative way of teaching in the classroom.

        Lastly, the MCAS test is 1-2 days, depending on what school you go to. A single day couldn't possibly represent how a student actually does in a whole school year. For example, sometimes kids have trouble sleeping, especially if they are thinking about the big test they are required to do tomorrow. Or perhaps you slept too well, didn’t wake up on time, and weren’t able to eat breakfast. Nobody works well on an empty stomach.

It is easy to see that MCAS should be banned. It’s stressful, it doesn’t affect student grades, and it is ridiculous to represent the skill of a student by a single day’s worth of work.