PDF: Letter to Staff PDF: GA09 doc.
When it comes to changing wrong answers to right on state standardized tests, only one school in North Georgia raised even “moderate” concerns, state figures show.
Most North Georgia schools raised no or minimal concerns in an analysis designed to detect whether classroom test scores were changed to improve school results on the state’s Criterion Referenced Competency Test.
The analysis follows an audit and criminal charges of test fraud last June in the school system of DeKalb County, an Atlanta suburb.
The audit by a contractor for the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement compared the percentage of changed answers in schools across the state, finding an overall state average of 4 percent. In the report, categories range from none to minimum to moderate to severe.
On Thursday, the Georgia Board of Education ordered immediate investigations for schools in the moderate or severe categories, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Web site. More than half of the schools reviewed in the Atlanta school system fell into the “severe” category.
Eastside Elementary School in Whitfield County was placed in the “moderate concern” category when 11.1 percent of its classrooms had a higher percentage of wrong-to-right changed answers than the state average. Eastside Elementary made the “moderate” mark by one-tenth of a percentage point, documents show.
Whitfield Schools spokesman Eric Beavers said officials will “work with staff at the school to review the findings” and “comply with recommendations” from the state.
A letter released late Thursday to staff and media states the system was following protocol.
“We firmly believe that those who administer and monitor tests in Whitfield County Schools apply all of their integrity to their work,” states the letter from the county Board of Education, Superintendent Katie Brochu and central office administration.
The CTB-McGraw Hill analysis dealt with answer changes on the 2009 Georgia’s Criterion Referenced Competency Test.
Catoosa, Dalton and Walker school systems each had one school in the minimum category, records show. Catoosa’s Cloud Springs Elementary, Dalton’s Brookwood Elementary and Walker’s Cherokee Ridge Elementary schools were flagged.
Catoosa Superintendent Denia Reese said officials there have “thoroughly reviewed our testing protocols to ensure that we have procedures in place to maintain the integrity of our testing environment.”
CLOSER TO HOMERome City Schools had three schools in the moderate category and two in the minimum category.Rome City Superintendent Gayland Cooper said he was “shocked” his system had any schools on the list.”It’s just unsettling,” Mr. Cooper said. “We’ll begin investigation at the school level to see exactly why several of the teachers have been flagged.”Hopefully, there’s a rational explanation,” he said.
Mrs. Reese said Catoosa officials found no irregularities at the school and are “confident that we have excellent procedures in place to protect our tests and to monitor our testing environment.”
Laura Orr, Dalton’s director of school support, said the system will continue to follow state testing procedures and guidelines but will review them with all staff members who’ll be involved in testing this spring.
“Although Brookwood School was listed in the ‘minimal concern’ category, they are not under investigation and will participate in the district-wide training in the usual manner,” Ms. Orr said.
Walker’s system has always “comprehensively trained staff and meticulously followed test administration protocol,” school system spokeswoman Elaine Womack said.