Judge blocks private meeting on high-stakes testing

THE RHODE ISLAND branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against a private meeting on high-stakes testing, which a judge blocked Tuesday.
THE RHODE ISLAND branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against a private meeting on high-stakes testing, which a judge blocked Tuesday.

PROVIDENCE – A judge has barred the R.I. Board of Education from meeting in private to discuss the issue of high-stakes testing, the Rhode Island Civil Liberties Union announced Tuesday. The ACLU filed suit on open meetings grounds last week to block the meeting.

R.I. Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini found there would be “substantial and irreparable harm” if the board barred members of the public from attending the meeting on the controversial issue, according to the ACLU release.

He issued a preliminary injunction against the meeting after hearing oral arguments from both sides Tuesday afternoon.

“We are extremely pleased with the judge’s ruling. This is an important victory for the public and for transparency in government,” said ACLU of R.I. Executive Director Steven Brown in a statement.

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The ACLU lawsuit cited the “extraordinary public attention” the question of high-stakes testing, which would tie high school graduation to NECAP test scores, has received.

The planned private retreat later this month, now blocked, was the first time high-stakes testing was on the Board of Education’s agenda in the board’s seven-month existence, according to the ACLU.

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