Grady Varney, chairman of the Hazard Independent board of education refuted an editorial published in the January 19 edition of the Hazard Herald which includes a comment Varney made during the January 13 regular meeting. Following a discussion about the hiring of a new ACT coach at Hazard High School, Varney quipped, “We will not have any extra money for erasers or anything like that.”An investigation into compromised test scores in Perry County is no longer an issue and districts officials have moved on, Superintendent John Paul Amis told board members during a meeting of the Perry County Board of Education last week.
In 2010, ACT, based in Iowa, launched an investigation into tests given at Perry County Central and Buckhorn High School, noting that information found during the inquiry led investigators to believe that the resulting tests were not solely the work of the students. Several scores were canceled and students were given the opportunity to retake the exam.
ACT took little action following their investigation, but did require the district to submit remediation reports and strengthen testing protocols.
Superintendent Amis took a moment during last week’s meeting to chide local media outlets for their recent coverage of ACT’s investigation, saying the now concluded inquiry is a “dead issue.”
Details of the ACT’s findings were included in two news stories in Hazard last week, first from the Hazard Herald and then from WYMT-TV after the Herald made an an open records request to the Kentucky Department of Education seeking documents related to the investigation.
According to those documents, ACT investigators found among other things high erasure counts indicating altered test responses and were told by at least one student that adult proctors had given answers to students during the test.
Amis said no students have told local officials of any impropriety, adding that there was no reason to be reporting on the story as he considers it over with. He said the investigation concluded two months ago, and there were no Perry County Schools employees implicated in the final report. He also noted that both Perry Central and Buckhorn will continue giving the ACT locally.
“It’s over,” he said. “It’s a dead issue. The only people that are keeping that issue alive is the media.”
Amis said he has never had a parent call him upset with the district about the investigation. He said there has been some anger toward ACT over their handling of the investigation, and now with the media.
“I had people today tell me that they’ll never buy another Hazard Herald or watch WYMT again because you just won’t let this issue go,” he continued. “The media and some of our school rivals are the only people that’s even mentioning this thing.”
Amis also criticized ACT for not sharing information with the district about who may have been responsible for manipulating the tests, and again noted that the final investigative report made no note of specific individuals either.
Board member Jerry Stacy said he has received calls from people about the investigation, and finds some of the allegations “troubling.”
“I was going through this today, and I couldn’t believe some of these allegations,” Stacy said during Thursday’s meeting. “I think these allegations are damning.”
Stacy said he was curious as to why the information was forwarded to other state agencies such as the attorney general’s office.
“That’s a dead issue,” Amis replied, saying that he thought ACT had a hidden agenda and wanted to hurt the Perry County District’s image.
“All ACT is trying to do ... is just to give the district a black eye. That’s all they’ve done,” he continued.
“We have done everything that they have asked us to do, and we’re going to continue to give the ACT at both of our high schools, and it’s over as far as I’m concerned,” he added.
Amis said despite charges of testing manipulation, the majority of the students scored the same or higher on the test during the make-up exam.
“We had 116 students that retook that ACT, and over 60 percent of them made the same score or a higher score than what they made the first time, but they won’t report that,” Amis said. "Nobody reports that.”
The final report issued by ACT on November 23 notes that 59 students whose scores for the 2010 ACT were canceled actually saw an average decrease in their new score by one point. But Amis said ACT cherry picked those students in an effort to ensure a negative reflection upon the school district. He said ACT’s focus on only 59 scores didn’t tell the whole story.
“They could take the 59 and make it appear like the scores went down,” he said.
“You actually think they’ve (ACT) got some kind of hidden agenda?” Stacy later asked.
“Obviously,” Amis replied.
Scott Gomer, media relations director with ACT, said the organization had no hidden agenda in its investigation, but did note that ACT’s part in the matter has concluded and offered no further comment.
According to an email from Lisa Gross with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in December, the matter was referred to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) for review, as well as the attorney general’s office and the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office of Inspector General.
Gross said KDE has had no word that either of those agencies have finalized their own investigations.
“Our legal counsel remains in contact with all of the agencies mentioned, but we’re not aware that any investigations outside of ACT’s have been completed,” she wrote in an email on Monday.
The Education Professional Standards Board did receive a referral from KDE, noted Alicia Sneed, director of legal services for EPSB, but thus far the agency has taken no action.
She did note that were the EPSB to take action on any matter, it would be leveled at individuals and not at the district as a whole. The EPSB handles the issuance of certification for all teachers and administrators in Kentucky.
Shelley Johnson with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office said her office has not yet received a referral from KDE about the matter, while a message left with the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office of Inspector General was not returned.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Famous Last Words
Monday, March 15, 2010
Petrilli Cleared of Testing Improprieties
When Peggy Petrilli appeals her case against the Fayette County Public Schools for wrongful dismissal, she will have a letter from Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to support her claim.
In his February 1st letter, the commissioner reviewed the district's claim of numerous testing improprieties and reported that the Testing Board of Review found that there was "not enough evidence" to sustain a violation of administrative regulations and the case was dismissed. The commissioner concurred.
Updated: According to KDE spokeswoman Lisa Gross, the Testing Review Board is a five-member group of KDE staff appointed by the commissioner and representing a cross-section of KDE offices and divisions. The process called for the Board to meet and hear a presentation of the allegations from the Testing Allegations Coordinator. The group reviewed documentation and other pertinent evidence as it saw fit. As the investigation proceeded the Testing Allegations Coordinator asked Fayette County for additional information. Petrilli was provided an opportunity to present information, but she declined and was not involved in the process.
So, the Board received the FCPS report written by Board Attorney Brenda Allen, asked for more information from FCPS, received it, and still found in favor of Petrilli, without her participation.
Asked if the dismissal of charges for lack of evidence lent support to Petrilli's argument - that the charges were trumped up to begin with - Gross declined to speculate. "It would be inappropriate for me to speculate on the veracity of the charges," she said.
Updated: In May 2008, the Fayette County Public Schools alleged testing violations against Petrilli in a report, 8-months in the making, that claimed:
- When Petrilli first arrived at the Booker T Washington Academy in September 2005, she moved 19 third-graders to second grade without consulting teachers or reviewing past grades, as required by law. The decision was based on how they performed in a series of tests conducted at the beginning of the school year.
- Petrilli misreported the number of students who were not academically promoted, which inflated test scores. In the 2005-06 school year, 62 students were demoted from third to second grade. But Petrilli only reported 43 demotions to the school district...among other things.
By July, the information in the report became evidence during the trial. Petrilli's attorney J Dale Golden objected asking, "Are they truly investigating the complaint? Or do they have an ulterior motive?"
Today, Golden told KSN&C, "The timing of their defense was key. Accusations have much less sting after they are determined to be false."
Golden said, "Appeal brief will be filed Thursday."
KSN&C Backstory:
While there was much we could not discuss on the record, there was no lack of confidence displayed by Petrilli in a conversation with KSN&C this morning.
Give me the lowest performing school in the state, and two years
- and I guarantee you I can turn it around.
--Peggy Petrilli
Look for updates to this story as I have requested comments from other parties.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Old Business: KBE Settles Suit, FCPS Testing Allegation Resolved
While we await the naming of the new search firm to help the board of education find Kentucky's next education commissioner...
You will recall that the state refused to pay bills submitted by Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the consulting firm that conducted a failed education commissioner search that produced Barbara Erwin.
State officials said the consulting firm conducted an "unsuccessful and discredited search" marred by a lack of thoroughness and accuracy in checking the candidates' backgrounds.
Former interim Commissioner Kevin Noland wrote to Ray & Associates President Gary Ray, noting the Board's initial payment of $15,030.44 but withholding the $33,734.77 balance.
According to KDE spokesperson Lisa Gross, late last year, KDE "settled with the company for $25,500, which is actually less than was owed to the group. This amount was agreed upon by both KDE and Ray & Associates."
One spin off of the testing allegations brought against former Booker T Washington Academy Principal Peggy Petrilli involved an allegation being made against a FCPS director.
District Director, Fabio Zuluaga reportedly came into a classroom minutes after students completed the day's testing and began looking through student test booklets. The classroom teacher reportedly advised Zuluaga that it was a violation of testing protocols but according to the report, Zuluaga stated that he was “checking for completion” and continued to look through the booklets.
FCPS did not respond to a KSN&C request to address the accuracy of this report.
The teacher reported the event to the Building Assessment Coordinator who reported it to the District Assessment Coordinator. The district reported the violation to the state.
According to Lisa Gross, KDE "sent a letter to Stu Silberman in December" informing him that "The CATS Board of Review had determined that a violation of the Administration Code for Kentucky's Educational Assessment Program did occur."
Despite ignoring the teacher's warnings, the board of review found "that the violation was unintentional." Gross added, "since there was no evidence that any students gained testing advantages as a result, scores were not lowered."
"[Former] Commissioner [Jon] Draud recommend that Zuluaga participate in a minimum of three hours of Administration Code Training," Gross said.
Fayette County schools spokesperson Lisa Deffendall confirmed to KSN&C that "In accordance with the recommendations, additional training has been completed."
As KSN&C opined at the time, "a director flipping through test booklets, if full view of school faculty, staff and students, without a pencil, maybe ill-advised, inappropriate and embarrassing, but it does not rise to the level of a major violation. ... Refresher training for the director seems indicated and sufficient."
Increased pressure on school personnel to produce higher and higher numbers has proven to be counterproductive to the assessment system - which is being dismantled by the Genral Assembly at this hour. One wonders what impact testing violations, like this one, have had over time in undermining teachers' confidence in the CATS Assessment - and the public's confidence as well.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
FCPS Responds to Report
What is immediately apparent is that - not all testing allegations are equal.
This one comes at a bad time, and involves a top-level administrator, but it does not rise to the level of allegation we've seen at BTWA. Perhaps a KDE investigation will reveal more than we know at this point, but it seems unlikely that it will exceed the current allegation.
The BTWA report (posted at H-L) recounts school officials sequestered in a room, pencils in hand, and students being moved contrary to regulation - and during the week of the test.
By comparison, a director flipping through test booklets, if full view of school faculty, staff and students, without a pencil, maybe ill-advised, inappropriate and embarrassing, but it does not rise to the level of a major violation. It gives the unfortunate appearance of impropriety; looks bad, but it doesn't smell all that bad.
The teachers, BAC, DAC and anyone who followed regulations and ran some political risk by reporting on their superior should be commended; literally. A thank you note, perhaps. Refresher training for the director seems indicated and sufficient.
District spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall, responded to the KSN&C post:
There is a testing allegation regarding Fabio Zuluaga. But in talking with Fabio, it appears that some of the information you have is incorrect. As with any allegations we receive, without exception, we send the reports to the Kentucky Department of Education for their review
Deferring to the report is proper protocol. But it also means we'll only have one side of the story for a while.
But this story is not really about Zuluaga.
Today's educators have been asked (required by law) to produce historically unprecedented results for children - on an inadequate budget. The legislature is required by the constitution to provide sufficient funds for schools to reach their goals - but efforts to get the legislature to step up to the plate aren't going so well.
For the first time in history, starting somewhere around 1995, schools are attempting to assure a proficient education for each and every child in Kentucky. Left with scant resources for increasing teacher productivity and delivering more instruction to more students, many school administrators have turned to "motivation" to leverage better results - and like it or not - the test is the only yardstick.
This has had the tendency to focus people's attention on numbers rather than children. Having each school pick a target accountability index to hit, you can't blame teachers for believing that it is only the test that matters to the district - even if that's not exactly the intention. As long-time district director Bob McLaughlin used to say, "What gets inspected, gets respected." And test scores get inspected - published - ranked - discussed - cussed - and before long become the whole game.
Does this explain the BTWA situation?
Principals are, at once, the most vulnerable individual in the school, and the one charged with raising numbers. Add to that, the pomp and circumstance surrounding the creation of BTWA, the introduction of Peggy Petrilli in the position of principal-as-savior, all of the support from community groups, and it becomes easier to understand how much pressure was brought to making BTWA successful. And that meant better numbers.
It may be about kids. But the numbers are getting in the way of the district message.
~
Finally, KSN&C posted a quote from OEA investigator Doug Terry referring to allegations made against Petrilli "last year." Thinking like a school person, "last year" to me meant last school year. But perhaps not. Deffendall opined, "I think he must be talking about this situation from last August, which we just completed the investigation on." Well, I suppose that could be. Last August was in 2007 and it's accurate to say that was last year. KSN&C has requested documents. We'll see if anything comes of it.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Fayette Co Director linked to new Testing Allegation
Since the Fayette County school district "substantiated" numerous allegations made against Petrilli in a 42-page report, several Kentucky School News & Commentary readers have suggested that when Petrilli went off the reservation in pursuit of the almighty test score she had plenty of company - some at the highest levels of district administration.
Yesterday, KSN&C confirmed one testing allegation that was made against an as yet unnamed district director, which in Fayette County is tantamount to an assistant superintendent.
This comes after the Office of Educational Accountability was apparently sent an anonymous complaint of testing irregularities alleging,
...The release ... of the 9 month investigation of the State accountability testing practices, irregularities in student retention, and gross violations of SBDM law, by the Principal of Booker T Washington Academy over a two year period, and the revelations in that investigation that these same illegal and unethical practices occurred in that Principal's previous school for years is a direct indictment of the leadership responsibilities of the district superintendent, school board, school directors, and SBDM coordinator. It also rasies (sic) serious concern about the leadership practices being allowed to exist in other schools in our district...
OEA Investigations Division Manager Bryan Jones said that the OEA will neither confirm nor deny anything specific to an on-going investigation - including whether they have even received a given complaint. But OEA "is aware" the allegation is out there.
OEA investigator Doug Terry confirmed that, for the OEA, anonymous allegations are not a problem. Terry said,...yes we do investigate anonymous complaints and treat those the same as identified ones. The EAARS committee thought if we didn't investigate those it may have a "chilling effect" on the process as most are afraid of their positions if identified.Pursuant to KRS 158.647 the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee (EAARS) is empowered to review administrative regulations and advise the Kentucky Board of Education concerning the implementation of the state system of assessment and accountability. Its members are Kentucky legislators.
KDE also investigates anonymous complaints KDE spokeswoman Lisa Gross said.
Yesterday a FCPS teacher (and KSN&C reader) suggested that the problems substantiated by Fayette County against Petrilli were simply part of a "mentality that is pushing teachers and principals to their ethical limits."
The teacher described her enthusiasm for teaching and optimism about helping students succeed. But over time the teacher came to believe that "success" in Fayette County means higher test scores. “The last two years in particular, things have been spiraling out of control as the district pushes and pushes to get scores higher and higher,” the teacher said. A "whatever it takes" mentality is pushing teachers and principals to their “ethical limits.” The teacher described two incidents in recent weeks that illustrate the frustrations some teachers feel.
KSN&C was able to substantiate" one of the allegations yesterday.
The allegation comes from the recent testing period and involved a district director who reportedly came into a classroom minutes after students completed the day's testing and began looking through student test booklets. The classroom teacher apparently advised the director that testing protocols did not allow this. But according to the report, the director stated that he was “checking for completion” and continued to look through the booklets. Teachers are required by regulation to report any test administration anomalies to the [Building Assessment Coordinator] BAC who is consequently required to inform the [District Assessment Coordinator] DAC. The director was reportedly “told to stop doing this, but there was no write up.”
KSN&C asked District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Carolyn Martin how she would advise a director who might ask if reviewing student test booklets was appropriate. She responded,I would explain that there is only one purpose for looking through student test booklets and that is to ensure that stray marks have been erased (as indicated on the last page of the Test Administration Manual—“Checklist for Test Administrators”). That can be handled in a scanning manner by thumbing through the booklet. However, that should be handled by school staff and then only by those who have been trained on the Administration Code.In fact, the incident involving the director was reported. Gross confirmed that,
[KDE] Staff is aware of an issue in Fayette County and is in discussion with district staff. No formal report has been received as of today.
Gross confirmed that over the years KDE has received allegations "about staff at all levels of school and district employment" from many districts So the fact that a director is implicated does not break any new ground.
KDE's process for resolving this allegation is the same as in the Petrilli matter.
The process that we follow for allegations is that staff reviews the allegation and any supporting material included; makes phone calls or personal visits to conduct interviews and gather more information; makes a determination based on evidence gathered; and develops correspondence for superintendents, principals and other school administrators connected to the issue outlining the findings. If findings indicate that scores should be adjusted, staff works with the Office of Assessment and Accountability to make that happen... Gross advised patience as well. "We don't set specific timelines for completion of investigations -- this is a busy time of year for those, since testing just ended."
In the course of the inquiry yet another revelation occurred. This was not the first time allegations were fielded by the state regarding Petrilli. Terry explained,
...I know we did get some complaints last year, but I believe we punted back to the Fayette County Board and KDE to investigate since most of those were testing irregularities.
As for KDE, Gross recalls the allegations as unfounded. Documents have been requested.
KSN&C has not yet learned where in Fayette County those testing allegations went to be resolved. Martin said the cases did not come to her.
Meanwhile, Marcie Lowe the executive staff director for the Education Professional Standards Board confirmed receipt of the Fayette County allegations against Petrilli.
"Yes, we have received a complaint and it is under review at this time."