High school students across New Mexico walked out en masse this morning to protest the start of PARCC testing, which began Monday morning.
Students in more than a dozen high schools across the state used social media to coordinate walkouts after more than 250 students from Santa Fe's Capitol High School walked out and protested for two days last week at the state legislature and public education department.
Students in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Hobbs and Las Cruces all posted pictures and videos on Facebook and Twitter as walkouts began. In Las Cruces, approximately two-dozen parents joined in solidarity by protesting at the district's school board office.
I caught up with Janelle Astorga, a senior at Albuquerque High School and student leader of protests there, to explain why students left and what happens next:
Janelle explains that about 300 students walked out of Albuquerque High School today. They planned to remain out of class through the morning, then return for afternoon sessions where they will refuse the tests. Students scheduled for instructional classes will take those classes, as normal.
Supporters sent us this video of student leaders in Hobbs explaining why they walked out on PARCC: