cover 1999-2002 - SCI

Cheating The Children:
Educator Misconduct On Standardized Tests
An investigation by this office uncovered widespread cheating by educators at 32
elementary and middle schools in all five boroughs to manipulate student performance on
City and State examinations, primarily the Citywide reading and math examinations and
the State reading and English Language Assessment tests. Our investigation began in
July 1998 after a number of teachers at CES 90 and CES 88 in District 9 in the Bronx
publicly exposed a history of cheating at those schools during
the administration of standardized tests. After interviewing
several students at that school, we learned that at least six
educators, including the principal, improperly influenced the
school’s performance.
Our report cited 52 school employees for a variety of
misconduct. The investigation revealed that educators
frequently instructed students to place their answers on scrap
paper that was subsequently corrected by proctors before the
final responses were transferred onto the official bubble
sheets. Others physically altered answer sheets, prompted
students to change incorrect responses or provided students with practice exams that
contained actual test questions.
Our report further detailed the BOE’s handling of allegations of testing
irregularities. A review of over twenty cases brought to the attention of the Chancellor’s
office revealed that numerous instances of impropriety during the administration of tests
were mishandled or completely disregarded by BOE officials. Educators responsible for
corrupting the testing process went largely unpunished and in many cases unduly
influenced the status of their respective schools. In addition, students whose
performances were affected by misconduct often had their scores invalidated and deleted
from official records, thus hindering an accurate assessment of their educational abilities
and needs.
Our investigation
began after a
number of teachers
at CES 90 and CES
88 in the Bronx
publicly exposed a
history of cheating
at those schools
during the
administration of
standardized tests.
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