Test-tampering allegations on rise in New York City schools

Aug. 23, 2011
More schools, higher stakes may be causing problems

From The New York Times: Annual allegations of test-tampering and grade-changing by educators in New York City public schools have more than tripled since Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg took control of the school system. The city's special commissioner of investigation, Richard J. Condon, attributed the rise to the expansion of the school system — its budget has more than doubled, to $24 billion from $11.5 billion when he took office in 2002, and the number of schools has grown to 1,700 from 1,200 — and to the higher stakes attached to standardized tests and classroom grades. The city’s performance bonuses, teacher evaluations, school progress reports and decisions on closings are all increasingly tied to student performance.

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