State investigates ‘irregularities’ on ISAT tests

State investigates ‘irregularities’ on ISAT tests
WBEZ/Linda Lutton
State investigates ‘irregularities’ on ISAT tests
WBEZ/Linda Lutton

State investigates ‘irregularities’ on ISAT tests

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The state says “testing irregularities” occurred last spring at seven Illinois elementary schools when students took state standardized ISAT tests.

Those cases, along with 26 others dating back to 2005, are being investigated by the Illinois State Board of Education.

The news comes as the state continues a major cheating investigation. It’s conducting an “erasure analysis” on every student answer sheet from the ISAT tests kids took last spring. In other states, such analyses have turned up evidence of adults changing answers and improperly helping children.

ISAT exams are taken by third through eighth grade public school students in the state.

In addition to the erasure analysis, the state says districts themselves occasionally report test irregularities. For the first time, the state is revealing the names of 33 schools that have reported such irregularities since 2005.

State board spokeswoman Mary Fergus says self-reported irregularities might include allowing children more time on a test, reading questions to students or allowing them to open their test booklets before the appointed hour.

“We wouldn’t call this cheating just yet. We’re still reviewing what happened,” said Fergus.

Forest Park superintendent Lou Cavallo said his district “did the right thing” when it discovered a fifth grade teacher had encouraged her students to carefully “look over” their answers after she noticed they’d made incorrect choices on the test.

“A teacher was encouraging students to look back over answers,” said Cavallo. “Not giving any answers—not cheating and saying, ‘That is wrong—change it to this.’ Nothing like that, but to look over answers.”

Still, that didn’t sound right to one of the fifth graders, who reported it to a parent. The parent reported it to the school.

ISAT results for the specific classrooms under investigation are being suppressed. Affected students receive a student ISAT report that says “NA” for “not available.”

Districts from across the state reported the irregularities. The state says it does not yet have a timeline for finishing its larger cheating investigation. “This is our first time doing this kind of a thorough review,” said Fergus. “It’s an ongoing, evolving process.”

Districts that have reported “testing irregularities” to the state, 2005-2011

Year of test School District/City Affected grades
2011 Lombard Middle School Galesburg CUSD 205, Galesburg 6th grade reading and math
2011 Churchill Junior High Galesburg CUSD 205, Galesburg 7th grade reading
2011 Bright Elementary School Chicago Public Schools 4th grade reading, math, science
2011 Greenbrook Elementary Keeneyville Elementary SD20, Hanover Park 3rd and 4th grade reading
2011 Grant-White School Forest Park SD91, Forest Park 5th grade math
2011 Silver Creek Elementary Triad CUSD 2, Troy 4th grade reading and science
2011 Knoxville Junior High Knoxville CUSD 202, Knoxville IAA (special needs)
2010 Clinton Junior High Clinton CUSD 15, Clinton 8th grade math
2010 Chester Grade School Chester CUSD 139, Chester 4th grade math
2010 Marion Junior High Marion CUSD 2, Marion 6th grade reading
2010 Cook Elementary Chicago Public Schools 4th grade math
2010 Robinson Elementary Chicago Public Schools 3rd grade reading, math, writing
2010 Daley Elementary Chicago Public Schools 8th grade reading, math, writing
2009 Lincoln Junior High Skokie SD69, Skokie 8th grade reading
2009 Williamsfield Elementary Williamsfield CUSD 210, Williamsfield 3rd grade reading, math, writing
2009 Hartsburg-Emden Junior/Senior High Hartsburg-Emden CUSD 21, Hartsburg 5th grade reading and writing, 6th grade writing
2009 Paw Paw Elementary, Paw Paw Paw Paw CUSD 271 6th grade math and writing
2008 Krug Elementary Aurora East USD 131, Aurora 3rd, 4th, 5th reading and math
2008 Illinois Elementary Matteson SD162, Matteson 7th and 8th grade math
2008 Shiloh Middle School Shiloh Village SD85, Shiloh 5th grade math
2008 Carolyn Wenz Elementary Paris Union SD 95, Paris 4th grade math
2008 Little Village Academy Chicago Public Schools 3rd grade reading and math
2007 National Teachers Academy Chicago Public Schools 7th grade math
2007 Piccolo Specialty School Chicago Public Schools 3rd grade reading
2007 Cotton Creek School Wauconda CUSD 118, Wauconda 3rd grade math
2007 Jefferson Junior High Naperville CUSD 203, Naperville 7th grade math
2007 Eastlawn Elementary School Paxton-Buckley-Loda Unit #10, Paxton 4th grade reading and math
2006 Alcott Elementary Chicago Public Schools 7th grade science
2006 Franklin Middle School Springfield SD 186, Springfield 7th grade science
2005 Anne M. Jeans Burr Ridge CCSD 180, Burr Ridge 3rd grade reading
2005 Mill Creek Elementary Geneva CUSD 304, Geneva 3rd grade math
2005 Lathrop Academy Chicago Public Schools 7th science
2005 Freeport Junior High Freeport SD145, Freeport 8th grade math