09/30/12More Cheating Scandals Inevitable, as States Can't Ensure Test Integrity
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (09/30/12) Pell, Michael; Vogell, Heather; Judd, AlanThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that cheating was rampant across 44 Atlanta schools before the state stepped in, and unless state oversight is more consistent, even in other states, experts say that the integrity of standardized tests will be called into question. The investigation says that cheating scandals are inevitable if there is poor oversight, and this problem could undermine national education policy built on test scores, which states and local districts hope to use as part of school and teacher evaluations. The investigation's survey of 50 state education departments found that 24 states did not conduct an analysis looking for unusual test improvements, 21 did not look for an improbably number of changes from wrong to right answers, and 34 did not screen for unusually similar answers. The study indicates that the United States has a national strategy for administering tests, but no national strategy to ensure test integrity. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a recent interview that test security is best left to state and local officials. The U.S. Department of Education does require states to provide evidence that they have testing manuals and documents that address security and the reporting of testing irregularities.
