ACLU, 13 Groups Urge RI School Committees to Not Use PARCC as Graduation Requirement

The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and 13 other groups sent letters to every school committee in the state on Tuesday urging them to not use the PARCC test as a graduation requirement before 2020.

Some districts apparently had requested permission from the state to use the test as a graduation requirement before the 2020 date recommended by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, the ACLU said in a statement.

Signees include officials from such groups as the George Wiley Center, Parent support Network of Rhode Island, Providence Student Union, Young Voices, Coalition to Defend Public Education, the Autism Project, Rhode Island Disability Law Center and the NAACP.

They argue that using PARCC scores for graduation or grading purposes sooner than 2020 would be “problematic” and “while our fundamental stance that the PARCC should not be used as a graduation or grading requirement remains steadfast,” the letter states, “we want to support [school districts’] efforts to carefully put in place the kinds of educational and support processes that give all students, and especially vulnerable students, the best possible chance to meet any standard set for graduation. Implementing the PARCC as a graduation requirement at an earlier rather than later date jeopardizes that possibility and raises a multitude of legal compliance issues that should be carefully considered.”

These are the key arguments: (LEA means ”local education authority”)

• All LEAs must use the RIDE early warning system to identify students at-risk for academic failure and dropout no later than the sixth grade year. Critically, families of all students must be notified by sixth grade of local graduation requirements. Obviously the class of 2017 could not have been so notified as the PARCC was not even in use at the time. More importantly, the class of 2017 could not have been notified at entry into 9th grade about minimum achievement required on these tests (as required by the regulations) since cut scores have yet to be established.2

• All students must have an individual learning plan (ILP) beginning no later than the sixth grade (see the regulations for complete guidance on the nature of an ILP).

• All LEAs must provide additional academic and instructional support and research-based interventions for all students not on track to meet the graduation requirements. (See the regulations for complete information about the progress plan each of these students must have and how they relate to the student’s ILP).

• While students with disabilities are expected to present evidence of successful completion of the graduation requirements, under federal law they have the right to remain in school until the age of 21. [L-6-3.8(d)]

• While students identified as English language learners (ELLs) are expected to present evidence of successful completion of the graduation requirements, some of these students will qualify to use an alternative assessment(s), which the Commissioner is required to identify, in order to determine their academic proficiency, and may continue working toward successful completion of Rhode Island graduation requirements beyond the equivalent of the 12th grade year. [L-6-3.8(e)]

Any student not receiving appropriately individualized supports in accordance with this guidance has the right to appeal. [L-6-3.8(f)]

A copy of a sample letter is hosted on the RIACLU website.

Photo: http://parcc.pearson.com/