Students throughout the state staged walkouts today in protests over the start of standardized testing.
This week marks the start of standardized testing for students. The controversial standardized tests, developed by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The PARCC exams have been highly debated in the legislative session this year and many students in New Mexico have staged walkouts to protest the standardized assessments.
Some people have said the students protesting are learning a lesson in in standing up for their rights. Others have said students should stay in classes for their own safety and that tests are a part of life beyond school. The state’s Public Education Department has said the PARCC test is similar to the previous SBA tests.
New Mexico Political Report spoke with Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces, about students’ decision to leave school in protest. Soules is also a teacher in the Las Cruces Public School system.
