Friday, April 12, 2013

EDUCATION - Possible Cheating in DC Schools

"DC Schools Warned in 2009 About Possible Cheating" AP, ABC News 4/12/2013

An internal memo shows that District of Columbia schools officials were aware in early 2009 about the possibility of widespread cheating on standardized tests.

An analyst hired by then-schools chancellor Michelle Rhee found that 191 teachers at 70 schools had been implicated in possible testing infractions involving wrong answers that were erased and changed to the correct ones.

Investigations found isolated cheating but not to the extent suggested by the erasure rates.  One teacher was fired.

In Atlanta, dozens of educators, including the former superintendent face racketeering charges, accused of a widespread test cheating scandal.

D.C. school officials say the memo was based on incomplete information and flawed methodology.

The memo was obtained by journalist John Merrow, who shared it with The Associated Press.  USA Today was first to report the contents.

For non-U.S. readers:  "DC" = District of Columbia = Washington DC our national capital.

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