In Georgia, test-answer erasures triggered criminal probe

[rpannier]

The same kind of high erasure rates that have been reported on standardized tests in Washington, D.C., schools also spurred intensive investigations by state and federal authorities in Georgia during the past two years.

The tactics used in Georgia are sharply different, however, from those employed in Washington: Georgia is conducting a criminal investigation that could lead to prosecutions.

Fifty agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, an agency like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, began in October 2010 to question teachers and principals at 58 Atlanta schools where there were statistically significant rates of wrong answers changed to right ones on students' answer sheets. The agents are conducting one-on-one private interviews with educators. It is a felony in Georgia to lie to a law enforcement officer.

snip

Kathleen Mathers, the executive director of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, said any Georgia school where 5% or more of classrooms had high rates of wrong-to-right erasures was of "concern" to investigators; those schools where 25% of classrooms had high erasure rates were of "severe concern" and were considered priorities.

link:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-03-28-1Aschooltesting28_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

If you're interested, a fellow DUer posted this about DC schools.

link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x595111