Atlanta Public Schools Safeguards To Prevent Test Cheating

But now as WABE’s Rose Scott reports, APS has measures in place that make it hard to do again.

The governor’s report on the cheating exposed bold and blatant methods to alter test answers on the 2009 CRCT.

Even to the point where answer sheets were taken out of the school so incorrect answers could be changed to correct ones.

According to the report, there was even a cheating party.

Now, that’s nearly impossible says APS spokesperson Keith Bromery, “the testing materials are stored in sealed envelopes with security strips that make it very obvious if the envelopes are tampered with or opened by unauthorized persons.”

In-between the time the CRCT is given and when the answers need to be shipped out Bromery says the testing materials are safeguarded like money in bank.

“They include secure lock safe-rooms in every school where testing materials are stored, only the principals and test coordinators have keys to these rooms” says Bromery.

The testing protocols were tightened and implemented immediately after the cheating scandal.

There are also practices in place for the educators.

Some teachers will rotate to other classrooms and monitor the exams.

Bromery adds there’s even pre-training for those monitoring the tests, “all of our personal involved with testing, the administration of the test or in monitoring of the administration of the test undergo required annual training.”

The state is also assigning test monitors on a random basis to some schools.

If anyone suspects unethical behavior, APS still has the anonymous tip line.

The CRCT is given to students in grades 3 through 8^th.