State board delays finalizing CCR standard after split stakeholder feedback and equity concerns

The State Board of Education on Dec. 5 discussed next steps on the college‑and‑career‑readiness (CCR) standard after staff presented stakeholder engagement results showing nearly 600 survey responses and a roughly even split on competing proposals.

Phil Lasser and staff summarized the public engagement: about 60% of respondents identified as teachers, 29% as parents, and the survey returned nearly 600 responses overall; high‑school GPA and core‑course GPA were the most frequently suggested measures and ranked most important. Staff reported that roughly half of respondents favored the initial AIR‑study proposal, while roughly half favored the State Board’s version that adds a math element; about 18% chose neither.

Board members pressed on whether a CCR gateway could inadvertently bar students from career‑technical education programs or disadvantage neurodivergent students. "I do not want the CCR standard to be a barrier to any student's choice anywhere along the way," said Dr. Getty, urging attention to pathways for students who are not on a traditional academic trajectory.

Staff outlined fiscal implications: meeting the CCR standard triggers an additional per‑pupil CCR allotment; for the current fiscal year that amount is about $567 per student. Several board members stressed early intervention and communication with districts so students are identified and supported before tenth grade.

The board agreed to step back from final action in December and aim to return in January with more analysis and companion work on implementation, multiple pathways and communication strategies for districts and families. Members also asked MSDE staff to model different options' impacts on CTE access, special‑education populations and district budgets.

The board emphasized the CCR standard is meant to be a predictor and a foundation, not a one‑size‑fits‑all gatekeeper; members requested clearer language and guidance about how the standard would interact with graduation requirements and local grading policies.