PHOTO: City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. Photo Courtesy of Manhattan Borough President’s Office
With the city public school system—including Richmond Hill High School—mired in a an alleged cheating scandal, Chancellor Carmen Fariña last week announced the formation of a task force to address and prevent violations of academic policies.
The Department of Education acknowledged that “sporadic allegations regarding academic integrity” spurred the creation of the first-ever permanent panel that pledges to provide oversight, as well as new training and resources to ensure all schools comply with policies and standards.
“Schools violating our academic policies are not giving students the education they deserve, and I have zero tolerance for schools flaunting our policies,” Fariña said. “By creating a Regulatory Task Force on Academic Policy and forming dedicated teams to monitor any concerning trends, we are once again sending a clear message that violating academic policies will not be tolerated. Our policies are non-negotiable, and any inappropriate action will be reported to [the Special Commissioner of Investigation].”
Last month, the New York Post exclusively reported that three teachers at RHHS re-scored several Regents exams after receiving an email from an assistant principal urging educators to find extra points on tests that fell just short of the passing mark. Five exams were changed to higher scores.
Regents exams are only allowed to be re-scored if someone believes there was an error and teachers are not allowed to score exams from their own school.
RHHS and John Adams High School in Ozone Park are both on the state list of Struggling Schools for not meeting academic standards. They have been given two years to make demonstrable changes, or an independent receiver will be appointed to oversee the school.
Two days prior to Fariña’s announcement, cheating allegations were made against William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City; and the principal of John Dewey High School in Brooklyn was fired last month amid revelations of alleged cheating.
“Swift action appears to have been taken by Chancellor Fariña to address these recent allegations about cheating,” said City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), chairman of the Council Education Committee.
The task force will be led by Phil Weinberg, deputy chancellor for Teaching and Learning. It will report directly to Fariña as well as produce biannual reports on how well schools are meeting academic standards citywide.
The DOE will also introduce more training for superintendents, Borough Field Support Center staff and guidance counselors. School principals will have mandatory training sessions.
The plan is expected to cost $5 million.
By Greg Zwiers
