Several stories suggest that Massachusetts voters are likely to end the requirement that students pass the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) exams to graduate when they vote on Referendum 2 in November.

Ending the requirement would be a mistake.

Yes, MCAS can often feel burdensome from the perspective of those around Lexington schools who may wonder what’s the point. And yes, there’s plenty of room for improvement in the MCAS English, science and math exams.

But having a third party validate that someone has learned and mastered certain foundational skills and knowledge is a good thing. Teachers shouldn’t be the judge of their students’ performance. Not only does it create an incentive for grade inflation, but it also puts teachers in the uncomfortable position of being not just students’ coaches and advocates, but also their judges and juries. That’s unfair to teachers, students and parents.