New Bedford superintendent says he won't sign replacement diploma

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. --The superintendent of New Bedford schools said he won't sign the "general diplomas" the school committee wants to award students who have failed the state MCAS exam.

The decision by Superintendent Michael Longo puts him at odds with Mayor Scott Lang, who supports the diplomas, but allies him with Gov. Mitt Romney, who has threatened to cut off state funding for the city education budget if the city gives out the diplomas. Passing the MCAS is a state requirement for graduation.

"There's only one legal diploma in Massachusetts, and that's someone who passes the (MCAS) competency determination," Longo said.

Lang said he was uncertain whether he, as School Committee chairman, could sign the diploma in Longo's place. But Longo said the diploma is legal only if he signs. If he refuses, Romney can't follow through on his threat to withhold funding, which would amount to about $103 million next year, Longo said.

"They can't penalize us for doing the right thing," Longo said.

The school committee voted Monday to issue diplomas to students who don't pass the MCAS test but meet the district's graduation requirements. In the past, those students have received a certificate of attendance.

School committee members said the MCAS requirement was forcing students who couldn't pass the exam to drop out.

"There are a lot of kids who are not going to pass this test, and they leave before they fail," school committee member Nancy Feeney said. "This could just be another option that we give kids. Why does it all have to hinge on one test?"