RIDE to participate in NECAP debate

RIDE has finally decided to participate in the statewide debate over high stakes testing as Andrea Castaneda, the staffer in charge of school performance, will participate in a panel discussion with advocates against the NECAP graduation requirement.

She will be joined by Jim Vincent, of the Providence NAACP, Rick Richards, a former RIDE accountability specialist and JoAnn Quinn, of the Autism Project, Ron Wolk, former vice president at Brown University and founder of Education Week Magazine and Bob Mattis, director of special education at St. Mary’s Home for Children.

It is being organized by Jean Ann Guliano and Bob Houghtaling, both of whom have been vocal opponents of the new graduation requirement. Houghtaling and Richards have both authored posts for RI Future on the NECAP test.

It will be at Warwick City Hall at 6:30 on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Initially, the event was to be held in East Greenwich but school officials asked Houghtaling to hold it elsewhere. Houghtaling works for the town in the East Greenwich schools. Guliano and Quinn are both East Greenwich residents. Houghtaling invited Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, who declined to attend.

Here’s the press release sent from Guliano:

In response to the vigorous statewide debate over the use of the NECAP test as a high school graduation requirement and a broader national debate over standardized testing, two youth advocacy groups have planned a community forum to discuss the issue.

The forum is scheduled for this Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 pm and will be held at Warwick City Hall in the Council Chambers.

A number of panelists will present views on the issue from a variety of perspectives. Audience members will then have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.

Forum organizer, Bob Houghtaling, a Warwick resident and the Director of the East Greenwich Substance Abuse program stated, “This is an extremely important issue affecting all students.  Parents, students and educators have many concerns related to the use of standardized testing and are seeking more dialog on the issue.”