The Evidence Is Clear: Test Scores Must Accurately Reflect Students' Learning
USA Today recently reported on an important topic: the reliability and integrity of student test scores in Washington, D.C. during the first three years of mayoral control of the city's schools. With student achievement becoming an increasingly important part of accountability systems nationwide, we have to ensure test scores accurately reflect what students have learned.
The reports, however, unfairly leave the impression that district leaders unduly influenced or avoided an investigation into possible cheating. Further, it implies cheating was widespread. I was chancellor of the schools at the time, and I would like to set the record straight.
It is simply not true that district officials avoided doing an investigation. The accuracy of student achievement data was of paramount importance to us. When schools were flagged by the state