Principal Accused of Encouraging Cheating in Philadelphia

Philadephia’s Inspector General’s Office investigates continuing cheating allegations at schools — including Cortez’ Cayuga Elementary School.

Widespread allegations of cheating at Cayuga Elementary School have resurfaced recently — and the main source of the alleged cheating appears to be the Principal Evelyn Cortez:

During the last few weeks, investigators from the state Inspector General’s Office have spent several days at a number of city schools, including Cayuga, where scores began climbing in 2008. They have been interviewing staffers for as long as 90 minutes each on what they have seen over the last several years.

PSSA scores (a state achievement test) have been climbing at the school since 2008. Previous investigations carried out by the district dismissed similar allegations as “unfounded” in 2009 and “unsubstantiated” in 2011. There is no official record of an alleged complaint by teachers in 2008 who claim to have been harassed by the under-fire Principal into a number of illegal cheating techniques.

Angered by such incidents, several teachers said a group of them wrote a letter telling district officials about the cheating they had seen.
They said they submitted it to a teachers’ union official and were told it would be given to district officials, the teacher said.
No inquiry was ever conducted. Both the district and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers said they had no record of a complaint in 2008.

The continued investigation has resulted in a major shift in testing policy already, as teachers are now prohibited from administering tests to their own students. Observers are also expected to be present during future testing and tighter controls on testing material will be implemented.

One teacher described being told by Cortez that students had to reach the 90th percentile or above in a district benchmark test.
“She was implying that she wanted me to help them. I said: ‘I can’t help them. That goes against everything I believe in,’ ” the teacher said.

There are also allegations that Ms Cortez demanded that teachers teach to the test and look ahead at future testing material — a prohibited act.

Principal Cortez denies any involvement in any cheating.

Comments

Linda Brees

March 8, 2012 at 3:54 am

I can already see what Joe is going to say about this, and of course this is completely shameful, but does anyone but me feel even a tiny bit of sympathy for these teachers and administrators who got stuck in this system? The incentives are so so wrong right now it makes me weep.

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Joe

March 8, 2012 at 3:54 am

Ok, Linda, what am I going to say?

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Linda Brees

March 8, 2012 at 4:21 am

Bad teachers, blah blah, bad administrators, etc etc, ban the unions.

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- Joe
  
  March 8, 2012 at 8:46 am
  
  Is any of this not true? I was also going to add about greater oversight at the district level.
  
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  - Mike
    
    March 8, 2012 at 10:02 am
    
    Is any of what not true Joe? Yes there are bad teachers and union or nonunion that will always be the case. Some are so bad they should be fired. Problem is the same people that complain about bad teachers don’t want to pay teachers. So, lets say we fire all bad teachers. How many schools shut down because there are no teachers. There is not a surplus and firing bad ones will make others appear how? Increase pay and better candidates will pursue the position. Its not hard to figure out. And in this particular case where is the bad teacher? Bad administrator yes, bad teacher I don’t see any evidence. Oh, what is your profession? I want in becasue whatever you do apparently everyone does it well.
    
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MattW

March 8, 2012 at 6:42 am

We that is the Joe’s party line.
So Joe, Crank or Sock Puppet? Or are you told not to tell?
And notice how “rother Ted” showed up after I called Joe out-isn’t that funny?

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- Joe
  
  March 8, 2012 at 8:45 am
  
  Matt, you need to give this a rest. You might not like what I have to say, but it’s not like you’re contributing anything to the discussion.
  
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MattW

March 8, 2012 at 6:42 am

Sorry-I meant “Brother Ted”

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MattW

March 8, 2012 at 4:36 pm

No Joe, you don’t contribute, you troll. Ignorant drive-by comments (paid for by people with an agenda) arn’t “contributions” they are the lowest form of punditry and have no place in this country. Not as long as we the people dont stand for it.

(now watch Joe will play the “Kaiser Soze card” and act like I am the one trolling him. Sorry I’ve read the playbook and I call ‘em like I see em)

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- Joe
  
  March 9, 2012 at 2:33 am
  
  The question wasn’t what I contribute, the question was what you contribute? When was the last time you actually left a comment that had anything to do with the story and nothing to do with me?
  
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MattW

March 9, 2012 at 2:50 pm

now watch Joe will play the “Kaiser Soze card” and act like I am the one trolling him. Sorry I’ve read the playbook and I call ‘em like I see em)

The question wasn’t what I contribute, the question was what you contribute? When was the last time you actually left a comment that had anything to do with the story and nothing to do with me?

Wow, who’d thunk it.

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