Sam Drysdale, State House News Service

Massachusetts high school students would take end-of-course tests designed, administered and scored by the state under new graduation requirements recommended Monday by a state council. Passing the tests would not be a condition of receiving a diploma, as it was under the former "high stakes" MCAS system, but a major teachers union said the proposal still "defies the will of the voters" in 2024.

Staff at K-12 public schools in Massachusetts missed an average 12 days of work during the 2024-2025 school year, apart from summer vacation and breaks. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the staff absenteeism data for the first time on Tuesday, though Commissioner Pedro Martinez noted it was "not popular" with certain stakeholders.