ACLU to File New Lawsuit over Standardized Testing

The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union plans to announce yet another lawsuit in its ongoing battle over high-stakes testing.

Critics of a state policy tying high school diplomas to test scores point out that 4,000 seniors are at risk of not graduating, and they are overwhelmingly,  minority and low-income students, along with students with disabilities. However, state officials have been standing firm, arguing that students have multiple opportunities to show improvement on the test and earn a diploma.

The ACLU has already sued twice over the policy. One lawsuit, alleging the State Board of Education violated the open meetings act by planning a closed retreat, resulted in a judicial order to allow the public into the session on standardized testing.

Earlier, The ACLU sued the board for failing to respond to a petition asking it to re-consider the testing policy. The board recently decided to deny the petition in a close vote, but the ACLU criticized the board for holding a closed door session prior to the vote. State officials say the private session was legal because the board was discussing the ACLU's lawsuit over the petition.