New York State Public Education Test Fraud Probed

Newsday reports on government education:

The state is investigating potentially large-scale test fraud in the Uniondale school district, including alleged tampering with Regents exams required for graduation, state and local officials said.

Investigators from the state attorney general's office questioned both school administrators and teachers last week, according to Uniondale officials who expressed anguish about the situation. The district plans to send out letters Monday to parents of the district's 6,400 students, acknowledging the state probe.

Findings could be announced this week. Education Department officials said if any district staffers are implicated, students' scores on past tests would not be affected -- unless students themselves also are found culpable.

Like other districts across the state, Uniondale in recent years has faced rising pressures to do well on exams mandated by Albany. But local authorities said any malfeasance is inexcusable.

"I think there are pressures. But if an adult took part in this, this is reprehensible," said William K. Lloyd, the district superintendent, who pledged full cooperation with the state's inquiry. "It goes against basic morals and ethics and everything we want to teach our children."

Actually,a school system financed by coercion is a recipe for lying,cheating,and stealing.