State Education Officials Continue to Probe Possible Cheating on Standardized Tests
Dozens of schools in Pennsylvania are still under scrutiny after an examination of standardized test scores raised questions. The state Education Secretary was asked about the situation during a budget hearing in the house appropriations committee this week.
Ron Tomalis said that 51 schools in Philadelphia and schools in 21 other districts, including 4 charter schools, are still under review. He says the department will be making sure teachers in those schools do not proctor their own classes when the exams are given this year. In some schools, the state will have monitors present during the exams.
Tomalis told the house appropriations committee they’ve identified schools where the pattern does not appear to be isolated. He says in those schools, the questions were building wide across a couple of subjects and a couple of grades. He says in other schools, there were patterns specific to just one or two proctors. He says it’s a shame they’re dealing with this situation.
More than 20 other districts have been cleared of wrongdoing. The math and reading PSSA tests are scheduled to begin March 12th, with writing and science tests next month.
