Suspicious MCAS Scores Voided at Blackstone Elementary

Scores from last year’s mathematics portion of the MCAS test administered to grades 3-5 at Blackstone Elementary School will be voided after suspicious fluctuations in the results prompted an investigation by state officials last September.

“It is troubling that someone might think they are helping students by attempting to falsely inflate test scores,” Superintendent Carol Johnson said in a press release on Friday. “It’s also unacceptable.”

The questionable scores were reported in the mathematics portion of the exam, which was administered in March, 2010. Former Blackstone Principal Stephen Zrike reported the irregularities.

An eight-month investigation conducted by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was unable to determine conclusively whether the scores were tampered with, or identify the source of the irregularities, Johnson said. Officials did determine that the scores were questionable enough to be voided.

Students will not be affected by the suspected tampering, since their scores were never reported or used in any way, Johnson added. The incident was first reported to the public in a press release issued in September, 2010.

Blackstone Elementary was designated as a turnaround school by the state just weeks before the March, 2010 MCAS was administered. A few days prior to testing, Johnson announced that staff in the school would be required to re-apply for their jobs. The principal at the time, Mildred Ruiz-Allen, retired at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.