RIPR News
(2012-02-09)
PROVIDENCE, RI
(RIPR) -
Rhode Island's new graduation requirements are the subject of a proposal on Smith Hill. Some lawmakers and community groups are looking to ban the use of standardized test scores as a graduation requirement. They are filling legislation that would make it a violation of state law to use a test score to stop a student from graduating. Under the current rules, high school seniors will need a score of partially proficient or better to get their diploma starting in 2014. Opponents say this unfairly discriminates against low income and minority students whose test scores are more likely to come in below the bar.
State education officials say students will have the chance to re-take the tests, and they say students who show significant progress will be allowed to graduate even if they do not meet the minimum score requirement.
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