Massachusetts has some of the best public schools in the country. Progressive teachers’ unions want to sacrifice its standards in the name of social justice.

Massachusetts has had one of the top-ranked public education systems in the country for decades. However, progressive teachers’ unions and school administrators have chosen to sacrifice the state’s high standards in the name of social justice.

In November, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) led and won a ballot measure campaign to end the graduation requirement that students pass three core academic subject exams. MTA argued that, because some of the students who failed them were disadvantaged, the tests had to go. This change left the state with effectively zero graduation standards. 

The Massachusetts Board of Education adopted temporary graduation requirements in May, though they are among the lowest in the country. Now, students only need to complete some 9th- and 10th-grade-level courses and a few district-required classes to receive a diploma.

Democratic Governor Maura Healey established a council to create new graduation requirements by mid 2026, but legislators must approve any new plans, meaning the lowered standards will be enforced for some time. Furthermore, given that teachers’ union leaders are included on the council, educational standards are likely to remain lax. 

Massachusetts is not alone in its choice for educational decline. The SAT math section has gotten easier every year since 2008, the optional essay has been abolished entirely, and the reading passages are now as short as 25 words. Palo Alto Unified School District was recently criticized by Rep. Ro Khanna (D., California) for its decision to remove honors courses in biology and English, but the trend of ending advanced classes for “equity” has become widespread in progressive areas. Moreover, Oregon virtually eliminated high school graduation standards because they were supposedly a hurdle for marginalized students. Children in blue states are now suffering worse educational outcomes as a result.

Teachers’ unions are leading the charge against merit, as they are incentivized to get their members as much money for as little work as possible. Abolishing standards makes educators’ jobs easier, even if it comes at the cost of children’s education. Claiming that ending testing requirements is for “social justice” is just a cynical way to pander to progressives. The millions of dollars flowing from teachers’ unions to Democrats also contribute to the party’s institutional support. Until the political power of teachers’ unions is diminished, the left is bound to continue advocating for abysmal education policies.

Fortunately, as progressive states willingly destroy their school systems, conservatives have stepped up their game on reform. School choice programs have been enacted or expanded in more than 20 states since 2020, allowing parents to have greater say in where their children attend school. While vouchers are part of an ideal policy approach, they are not the only path to change. For instance, Mississippi public schools have jumped from among the worst to among the best in reading because the state mandated new teaching strategies. This “Mississippi miracle” was accomplished without a universal school choice program.

While plenty of attention has been paid to the Trump administration’s investigations of universities and plans to abolish the Department of Education, the most important education policies are still determined at the state and local levels. Letting teachers’ unions, bureaucrats, and left-wing school administrators make all of the decisions is proving disastrous for blue states. Conservatives have the unique opportunity to lead in education because of the left’s self-inflicted mistakes.