Updated 02/19/2011 06:01 PM
City Schools Face New Audits Of Test Scores, Grad Rates
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Changes are on the way for auditing test scores and grading at city public schools, following reported suspicions that some institutions may be manipulating their data.
The New York Times reports that school officials say graduation rates will also be among the new factors audited.
The paper says an abnormal number of students were given the minimum possible grade that allows them to pass the state Regents exams, raising concerns schools could be purposely covering up bad performance.
The Times conducted its own inquiry into the test scores and showed that over the past two years, public school students were about five times more likely to have an exact passing grade or a slightly higher score, rather than one slightly below passing.
The auditor general of the city's Department of Education will be in charge as a first-round of audits of 60 schools gets underway.
City officials have said they do not believe grade inflation or test manipulation is widespread.