Liz Burke, WPRO News
Students and supporters marched to the Rhode Island Department of Education dressed as zombies on Wednesday afternoon. The march was in protest of the NECAP exam that, they say, could affect high school seniors' futures.
“We really want this policy to change because it’s not fair for someone who works so hard to get a diploma and to find out you can’t graduate because of a standardized test,” said Madeline Tobar, a junior in high school and one of the protestors.
The protestors chanted “No diploma, No life”. They say the chant and the zombie costumes represent that without high school diplomas they are dead to society.
“I graduated middle school, to go to high school, to graduate high school. If I found out that just this one test could ruin everything I wouldn’t want to do school at all,” says Cheylene McLaughlin, a freshmen.
According to PTO President Jean-Marie Shirling, the students are given two opportunities to take the test their senior year. If they don’t pass it, they are given a certificate of completion instead of a diploma.
“One of the parents gave an example the other night and said it’s like taking a child in a wheelchair and we’re giving him two opportunities to get up and walk knowing that we know he can’t walk. So we’re giving these kids an opportunity to take the test twice knowing that they’re not able to pass,” says Shirling.
According to supporters, a released statistic says 60% of Providence students would not pass the test.
Members of the Rhode Island Department of Education did not make an appearance at the protest or commented.
