Principal, 4 teachers charged in cheating scandal

philly.com ^ | May 8, 2014 | Craig R. McCoy and Kristen A. Graham

[ilovesarah2012]

Update: The principal and four teachers at Cayuga Elementary School in Philadelphia's Hunting Park section have been charged with fostering a culture of cheating on standardized state tests there over a 5-year period, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Thursday.

Kane said the educators changed student answers, provided test answers to students and improperly reviewed Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test questions before giving the tests.

After the cheating stopped in 2012, the schools test scored dropped dramatically, Kane noted.

In 2008-09 state proficiency tests, Cayuga's fourth graders excelled: 88.8% pass math and 83.9% pass reading. By 2012-13, the most recent numbers available, fourth graders at the school struggled with 31% passing math and 25% passing reading.

Charged are:

Evelyn Cortez, 59, Dresher, Montgomery County; Jennifer Hughes, 59, Jeffersonville, Montgomery County; Lorraine Vicente, 41, Philadelphia; Rita Wyszynski, 65, Philadelphia; and Ary Sloane, 56, Philadelphia.

Earlier Story:

A criminal investigation of cheating on state tests is expected to lead to the arrests of teachers and other employees of the Philadelphia School District - including at least one principal - as the state Attorney General's Office brings charges of doctoring test results.

[unixfox]

What are the odds the teachers union will defend it.

Scum they are.

[Jack Hammer]

Yes, they’re corrupt and, no, they have no advanced knowledge of any subject under the sun, but, gee, they all have “credentials” out the yingyang.

Oh, brave, new world.

[sr4402]

Sounds like the Atlanta cheating scandal, which still has not gone to trial. And the media are sympathetic to those who altered the tests.

Bizaro World.

[Renegade]

Cheating on an Elementary School level?Cut me a break!Illegals dont even worry bout test scores!

[txrefugee]

The biggest punishment would be taking away their pensions, because that’s what most of these incompetent teachers value most.

[metalurgist]

These teachers must be white Republicans, otherwise the buck toothed bimbo would have scuttled the investigation.

IMPEACH THE CLINTOON BIMBO!

[Chode]

it's for the chilrens...

[Intolerant in NJ]

These teachers must be white Republicans, otherwise the buck toothed bimbo would have scuttled the investigation...doubt that they're Republicans, and their facial features in pictures on TV all appear to be of a minority status, although it is interesting how some of the stations - well the ABC affiliate anyway - seem to be lightening the shading in some of the photos to make the minority status somewhat less obvious - just sayin'....

[ilovesarah2012]

It’s for the teachers and principal so they look good. But you already know that.:)

[The Antiyuppie]

Well, I’m not seeing an ethical problem here. They were just trying to give those kids every opportunity and advantage that THEY had. No “pulling up the ladder” here!

</s>

[The Antiyuppie]

I’m debating...should I move to a third world country to retire, or should I just conveniently wait here?

[Chode]

yup, when school children start paying union dues, that’s when the union will start representing the interests of school children...

[metalurgist]

If you knew anything about this clintoon buck toothed democrat hack bimbo, she doesn't go after black democrats. At least she didn't until Daryl Metcalf started impeachment inquiry hearings on Wednesday for the newest clintoon replacement for Monica.

[Intolerant in NJ]

This isn’t a third-world-country-banana-republic already????.....

[Intolerant in NJ]

Oh, I’m well aware of this clintoon buck-toothed democrat - been watching her for a couple of years - she ran for some office in Penna a while back and lost, then simply ran again until the people finally voted for in, maybe just to get her ads off of TV - no matter how much you beat them down, ‘rats just keep coming back like weeds - we even have Marjorie Margolies (interesting she’s dropped the last name Mezvinsky) running again in the Philly suburbs this time around - but back to the clintoon etc etc, even more outrageous than not prosecuting obviously guilty ‘rats is her taking on to herself the right to decide what laws are and are not constitutional, like the same sex marriage ban which she decided not to enforce - arrogance right out of the Eric Holder playbook.......