The investigation has begun into how and why city schools's 7th and 8th grade social studies students were allowed to preview the questions to final exams. In a prepared statement (see below), Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard expressed concern that the allegations would tarnish the credibility of gains made on grades 3 to 8 English language arts and math tests.
School Board members were caught off guard by the news first reported in the Democrat and Chronicle more than a week ago. And neither Brizard nor district officials could answer why the students saw the exam questions in advance and who authorized the procedure. Board member Willa Powell, who was reached by phone last week, said it is unknown if other exam questions were reviewed in advance in other subjects.
The state, Brizard says, is about to announce "historic gains" in the district's graduation rates for the class of 2007.
Brizard's statement:
In my initial entry into the district, I outlined three fundamental core values. They are: achievement, equity, and accountability. As a public institution funded by public dollars, we need to be: accountable to the public that we serve [and] aware of our progress.
The allegations regarding the citywide 7th and 8th grade social studies final exams are very disturbing and cast a shadow on our historic gains on the grades 3-8 State English Language Arts and Math examinations. We want absolutely no questions on the integrity of all testing procedures so we have reached out to local colleges and universities, the legal community as well as internal leaders to conduct a top to bottom review of ALL testing procedures as well as provide recommendations moving forward. The social studies exams in question were citywide exams, and while we are confident that our state testing process is rigorous, I want no second-guessing and the review will include both citywide and state testing.
Frankly, we need to know if this was cheating or incompetence. If it was cheating, we will proceed with disciplinary action as far as the law will allow. If it was incompetence, our reorganization is already addressing this issue.
The State Education Department will soon release historic gains in our graduation rate for the class of 2007. Our students, teachers and principals have worked hard for the achievement gains we've made on grades 3-8 tests as well as the increases in our graduation rate. I will not allow the actions of a few individuals to tarnish the work of our schools.