Under the direction of Warwick resident Bob Haughtaling, the East Greenwich Academy Foundation and Eastern States Youth to Youth advocacy groups will host their second public forum regarding the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) and standardized testing graduation requirement.

The forum will take place at the Providence Public Safety Auditorium at 325 Washington Street in Providence on Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Free parking is available in a garage across the street from the complex.

The forum serves as a response to the statewide debate regarding NECAP and standardized testing as a requirement for high school graduation, and allows the public to listen to and ask questions of panelists who are experts in their fields.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to become part of the process. We feel there are a number of issues with the NECAP and the current graduation policy that are of great concern to many people,” said Houghtaling, who is also the director of the East Greenwich Substance Abuse program. “Members of the panel will outline some of these concerns.”

The panel will include Donald Anderson, executive minister for the Rhode Island Council of Churches; Suzanne DaSilva of the Rhode Island Teachers of English Language Learners; Jean Ann Guliano, a parent advocate for students with disabilities; Hector Perea from the Providence Student Union; Rick Richards, former Rhode Island Department of Education School & District Accountability Specialist; and Jim Vincent, president of the Providence branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

For more information, contact Houghtaling at 230-2246 or e-mail info@egacademyfoundation.org.