970 Madison Oak Park Illinois 60302 ph: 708.524.3000 fax: 708.524.3019 www.op97.

org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2012

CONTACT: Chris Jasculca Director of Policy, Planning and Communications (708) 524-3006 (office) cjasculca@op97.org

DISTRICT 97 SELF REPORTS TO STATE ABOUT POTENTIAL IRREGULARITIES IN ADMINISTRATION OF ISAT AT HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Principal submits resignation following the district's investigation into allegations OAK PARK, IL -- Oak Park Elementary School District 97 announced today that it conducted an investigation into potential irregularities associated with the administration of the 2012 Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) at Horace Mann Elementary School after receiving notification last week that the school may have been participating in activities that conflicted with the ISAT testing protocols established by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). After it was made aware of the potential irregularities, the district immediately launched an investigation into the allegations and contacted ISBE to report its initial findings. It discovered several possible violations at the school regarding post-test procedures that were carried out by a few staff members and relate to the tests taken by a small number of students in grades three through five. These violations included staff members reviewing test booklets and answer documents for stray marks and missing answers after they had been turned in by students; staff members erasing stray marks on the test booklets and answer documents; students being given extra time to transcribe answers from the test booklets to the answer documents; and students being given extra time to answer questions that they may have missed or skipped for reasons that include pages being stuck together. The district found no indication of testing improprieties at any of its other schools. The districts final report summarizing the results of its investigation has been sent to ISBE. It does not know when it will receive a response from the state agency, but expects it may take several weeks. Superintendent Al Roberts explained why the district believed it was important to make an announcement about its investigation at this juncture. While we anticipate that it may take some time for ISBE to issue its ruling regarding Mann Schools administration of the 2012 ISAT, we felt it was our duty and responsibility to be forthcoming and straightforward about this matter with the citizens of Oak Park, said Roberts. Our community can rest assured that we take these allegations very seriously, and will enact the necessary measures to ensure that all future tests, assessments and standards are administered in accordance with the Illinois School Code, are carried out with fidelity and serve the best interest of our students. Roberts further explained what steps are being taken by the district to address the actions by the staff members who were responsible for the alleged violations. More

The district has begun disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved in this matter, but is constrained by the law from disclosing details regarding such actions taken against an employee, said Roberts. While members of our staff clearly exercised poor judgment in this situation, I want to emphasize that they did not act with malice, nor did they intend to provide anyone with an unfair advantage on the test. Mann is an exemplary school with an extraordinary staff that is dedicated to meeting the needs of the families we serve. However, standardized assessments, such as the ISAT, are governed by a strict set of rules and guidelines that must be followed at all times. It appears that we failed to do so in this case, and we must accept the consequences. Roberts also announced that Nimisha Kumar, the principal of Mann School, had submitted her resignation following the results of the districts investigation. Based on the alleged activities, Ms. Kumar felt it was best to step down from her position as principal of the school. The District 97 Board of Education accepted her resignation during a special meeting held at the districts administration building last night, and her last day will be June 30, 2012. Roberts thanked Kumar for her full cooperation with the investigation, and expressed his appreciation for her seven years of service to Mann School and the Oak Park community. He also said that the district is currently reviewing the options available for filling the vacancy created by Kumars departure. These options may include assigning someone to serve as the principal on an interim basis for the 2012-2013 school year so the district can conduct a formal search that would include soliciting feedback from stakeholders about the qualities and characteristics they believe the permanent replacement should possess. ###