Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Richard Salit
Journal staff writer

WARWICK-- Allegations that students at Gorton Junior High School were improperly given certain advantages while taking statewide standards tests are being investigated by the state Department of Education, according to officials.

Education Department spokesman Elliott Krieger today confirmed that a lawyer within the agency is investigating alleged "improprieties" in the administration of the New England Common Assessment Program at Gorton in October. Due to the probe, the school's test results were not released yesterday with the rest of the schools in the state, he said.

"I'm not characterizing what this particular allegation concerned," said Krieger. But he did note that "this is the first time we've withheld test scores" and said "if it was some kind of mistake in the handling of documents it wouldn't take three months to look into all of the facets of it. It's of a higher order, a more serious allegation."

School Committee member Paul Cannistra said that the investigation originated with complaints by faculty members.

"Some of the allegations were that some of the kids were given too much time to take the test or were redirected to potentially complete sections more than they might have completed," he said, emphasizing "that's all strictly allegations."

Krieger said although the Gorton test scores were not released to the media for publication, they are now available on the Education Department's Web site.

"The distinction is that we aren't certifying them or accepting them at this point," Krieger said.

In addition, the scores can't be used to classify the school's performance, a requirement of the No Child Left Behind initiative which could result in sanctions against poorly performing schools.

Krieger said that scores for individual students should be mailed to parents as usual.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the tests will not be given again to Gorton students, he said.

"We'll keep the public informed of the results...It will be transparent," Krieger said.

 Tags  Warwick

Comments

J.R. said:

I give credit to the faculty members who complained! These actions where not right, what is this school teaching our children that it is OK to cheat on tests? I would hope that if the investigation goes as far as any students being questioned that the parents will be notified beforehand. I don't think the students should be punished for doing what they were told to do.

Link | January 23, 2009 5:00 PM
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