Politics & Government

Community Forum With Education Commissioner Gist Set For 5:30 p.m.

The state's commissioner of education, Deborah Gist, hosts a community forum as part of her "listening and learning" tour.

Following her visits to Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School this morning and a meeting with Johnston teachers this afternoon, Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist continues her "Transforming Education in Rhode Island" series of community forums tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School.

Gist has been traveling to each of the state's 36 school districts to discuss educational issues and update the public on the status of education in Rhode Island.

One potential topic is the release last week of the state's New England Common Assessment Program, or NECAP, results. The standardized tests are given every year to students in grades 3 through 8 and in grade 11.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Johnston, 71 percent of  11th-graders scored proficient or better in reading, just below the state average of 76 percent, while 31 percent scored proficient or higher on math (compared to a 33 percent state average) and 34 percent were graded "substantially below proficient," meaning they fell below the minimum requirements for graduation.

(Find complete results of Johnston's scores on the Department of Education's NECAP reporting website.)

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Another possible issue will be Gist's proposal for a three-tiered high school diploma system, which is currently expected to go into effect in 2014. After initially proposing a 2012 implementation of the new system, Gist changed the date following public outcry from parents of low-income and minority students.


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