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The Reporter April 2015
the cost to the district, and I want to understand how (if) the resulting data is being used to benefit our kids. Most importantly, I want parents to understand this,” Cahoon said recently. “I want to remind all that these testing mandates don’t give the administration a choice. It is a Federal mandate handed down to the states through the B.E.P. (basic education plan), Cahoon told the audience last month. School officials will provide an alternate place in school with reading or other assignments in lieu of taking the PARCC test.
Rep. Gregg Amore Submits PARCC Legislation
Saying that many parents feel it takes too much time away from regular classroom work, Rep. Gregg Amore has introduced legislation to allow parents and guardians of students in RI schools to opt out of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers (PARCC) assessments and tests. According to a RI General Assembly news release, “...the legislation, 2015-H 5845, calls on the Commissioner of Education to establish an opt-out procedure and to provide to each school in Rhode Island a standardized form that can be sent to parents or guardians informing them of their opt-out rights.” That form, under the legislation, would ensure parents that students will not face any disciplinary action for not participating in the tests and that each school will provide an alternative academic setting and activities for students not taking the PARCC tests. “Parents have legitimate concerns regarding the nearly 11 hours of testing their children will encounter, combined with additional hours of test preparation,” said Representative Amore an EPHS Social Studies teacher. “In addition, in larger schools, the technology limitations and the logistics associated with the testing could result in a total disruption of the normal class schedule,” he said. Consistency and routine are benchmarks of positive learning environments, and many parents would prefer their children to spend time in a classroom with a teacher, engaged in instruction and learning that includes the arts, sciences and social studies, rather than preparing for the PARCC testing, said the East Providence legislator. “Education policy-makers should look at this opt-out movement as an opportunity to change the direction of our standardized testing,” said Amore, who said that fewer than 10 states are planning to take part in the PARCC and that many states are now looking to move away from over-testing and toward a more practical assessment process. He said Rhode Island should be able to fulfill its No Child Left Behind testing requirements with an assessment that takes
only a few hours, rather than the 11 needed for PARCC. Among those other tests, with which many are already familiar, are the PSAT, SAT, LSAT, MSAT and the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching), which are all less than five hours in duration. “Moreover, the idea that individual districts can make this test a graduation requirement or apply it to academic records is absurd. We need to provide an opt out for parents who believe not participating in the program is in the best interests of their children, and we need to allow that option statewide.” The legislation, which has been referred to the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, also provides that no student will have his or her academic record adversely affected for not participating in PARCC. Among the bill’s co-sponsors are Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton), Rep. Aaron Regunberg (D-Dist. 4, Providence), Rep. Cale P. Keable (D-Dist. 47, Burrillville, Glocester) and Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence).
City Spending $385,000 Annually for Charter School Students
The school committee received a preliminary budget report from Financial Manager Linda Dykeman during the March school board meeting. “We’re in good shape financially right now,” Dykeman told the committee. “The auditors are in the building working on both city and schools. We are told they will have their report done soon,” she said. Member Nathan Cahoon requested clarification on bill list items for two charter schools. The school committee was told that the International Charter and the Met Center had monthly bills of $38,880 and $50,677. After the meeting Dykeman said the total annual bill for out-of-district charter school tuitions is $384, 655. “There are 31 students attending the Met Center School for a total of $229,135. There are also 20 students attending the International Charter school for a total of $155,520.” There are no charter schools in East Providence. The tuition is based on the per pupil expenditure for education.
Rep. Melo Bill to Address Campaign Finance Violations
A bill introduced in January, 2015 by Rep. Helio Melo would provide that “any candidate for state or local office who has outstanding campaign finance reports or
fines due the board of elections would be ineligible to qualify for election to any state or local public office until all such reports are filed and/or all fines are paid.” This act would also clarify filing requirements and increase compliance with Rhode Island Laws on campaign contributions and expenditures reporting. “I think that the public has a right to know where campaign contributions are coming from and the reports should be filed in a timely manner by anyone running for office,” said Melo. The bill is titled the “Rhode Island Campaign Contributions And Expenditures Reporting” act. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Gregg Amore, Rep. Patricia Serpa, Rep. John Lombardi, and Rep. Gregory Costantino. In November of 2014, The Reporter ran a story in which it was disclosed that at that time, the State was owed just under $1.8 million in unpaid fines by dozens of candidates and incumbents seeking election. Among that list were nine (9) from East Providence. Number six (6) on the list of campaign violators statewide was former East Providence School Committee member, Robert M Faria. In November the state Board of Elections said that Faria owed $62,872.00 in unpaid fines. The required reports shall include the name and address and place of employment of each person from whom contributions in excess of a total of one hundred dollars ($100) within a calendar year were received; the amount contributed by each person; the name and address of each person to whom expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) were made; and the amount and purpose of each expenditure. This law seems especially poignant in light of recent charges against former RI Speaker of the House, Gordon Fox. In November, The Reporter contacted officials from the Board of Elections. Richard E. Thornton, Director of Campaign Finance for the RI Board of Elections said that it is difficult to collect or enforce these fines. In fact, the BOE has tried to get legislative support in the past to help their effort “but to no avail.” “Collections have been an ongoing problem. To assist in collections the Board (BOE) requested a legislative change to prohibit persons with fines pending from seeking office. They have not received legislative support. “Collections remain an ongoing issue,” Robert Kando, BOE Executive Director said. Secretary of State, Ralph Mollis deferred all comment through an office spokesperson who stated that, “This would be a question for the Board of Elections. The Board of Elections is a separate entity. We prepare the ballots for the election(s), and educate voters on referenda and voting procedures. However, the BOE handles other matters, including campaign finance violations.” News Briefs continued on page 6...