Pu'uhale school cleared of violations

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

An investigation into alleged testing improprieties at four public schools has concluded there was no breach of security at Pu'uhale Elementary School, state testing officials said yesterday.

The findings at both schools wrap up more than a week of inquiry that also uncovered inappropriate review sheets and improper coaching at Wai'anae Intermediate and improper timing of practice tests at 'Aiea Intermediate.

"This is it," said Robert McClelland, director of the Department of Education's planning and evaluation branch. "No other schools that I have heard of have had any problems."

Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto said the problems, while unfortunate, did not cause irreparable damage or compromise the integrity of the test. She added that she did not think they indicated a widespread problem, since they affected only three of more than 280 schools — or 1 percent.

"We don't consider it to be of a magnitude or breadth and scope that we're concerned about the entire system being at risk," she said.

Cinde Fisher, the substitute teacher who reported possible irregularities at Pu'uhale, was not surprised to hear that the school was cleared of wrongdoing but maintains her belief that something was not right.

And while she said the principal of the school has told her she won't be asked to sub there again, she does not regret reporting what she felt were serious problems with the testing. She is sending letters detailing what she called retaliation for coming forward to the principal of the school, DOE officials and members of the Board of Education.

DOE officials have encouraged the reporting of any possible irregularities involving testing, saying the integrity of the test depended on rooting out such problems. Hamamoto encouraged teachers and staff to report any resulting retaliation.

"If you feel that you're being retaliated (against) or singled out or discriminated against, please let us know," Hamamoto said.

According to Selvin Chin-Chance, the DOE test development specialist who conducted the investigation at Pu'uhale, a proctor did talk to pupils during the test and write a note as Fisher reported, but none of the communications violated testing procedures.

Not related to test

Proctors are allowed to reread questions to students on the math portion of the test, and the written communication dealt with the school's junior police officer program and why the two girls wouldn't be volunteering anymore — not the test itself, Chin-Chance said.

Also, while pupils did talk about the test while an adjoining class could overhear, the other class was a different grade level and would not benefit from overhearing the questions and answers, Chin-Chance said.

"The alleged irregularities did not turn out to be anything that either compromised the test or any individual student's score," he said.

But Fisher questioned the urgency of discussing JPOs before the pupils had turned in their test booklets. "It sounds awfully odd to me that during a timed test (the proctor) would voluntarily speak to a student about nothing whatsoever to do with the most important test they will take during their elementary school years," she said.

Pu'uhale principal David Hanaike said the school fully cooperated with the investigation and was cleared of an irregularities. "There was no compromising of our test at Pu'uhale," he said.

He did not discuss the situation regarding Fisher, saying he was not allowed to discuss personnel issues. "All personnel issues are confidential regarding anyone who was involved in the situation," he said.

Inquiry began April 8

The inquiry into testing irregularities at the four schools began April 8 following an anonymous tip from an employee at Wai'anae Intermediate School. An investigation subsequently determined that some students at the school were improperly coached immediately before taking portions of the Hawai'i State Assessment. The investigation turned up two sets of review sheets prepared by someone who had taken an advance look at the test booklets, a clear violation of security under DOE rules, according to the DOE's McClelland.

That marked the first time that any impropriety regarding the Hawai'i State Assessment had been publicly acknowledged.

'High-stakes testing'

Randy Hitz, dean of the University of Hawai'i College of Education, could not comment on how prevalent cheating is in Hawai'i schools, but said it was no surprise that cheating had occurred, given the tough criteria under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

"I think it's something that you can expect any time you require high-stakes testing and that's what's happened here," he said. "It's not to excuse the behavior, but it is what happens when a school district or, in this case, the federal government, sets high stakes and rigid standards."

He also said those who crossed the line to help students with the test might have done it out of sensitivity for their students, who are placed in a potentially traumatic situation by the rigorous exams.

While administrators and teachers have to take responsibility for their actions, part of the problem rests in placing such an emphasis on test scores.

"Teachers and administrators are really good folks," he said. "What is it about a system that puts good folks in this position that makes them feel they have to go against the rules?"

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.