Local News in Brief : Teachers Advised Not to Give Exams

Complaining that teachers have been unjustly accused of tampering with students’ standardized test answers, the United Teachers-Los Angeles union is advising all teachers not to administer or handle upcoming exams.

“We’re telling (teachers) let administrators give the tests. You can proctor them, but don’t touch that test and don’t take any responsibility” for handling the exam sheets, union President Wayne Johnson said Tuesday. Most district schools will give the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills in two weeks.

According to recent disclosures by officials of the Los Angeles Unified School District and the state Department of Education, close to 70 elementary schools statewide changed incorrect answers given by students on the 1985-86 and 1986-87 California Assessment Program tests of academic skills. Twenty-four of the schools were in the Los Angeles district.

Associate Supt. Gabriel Cortina said, “No assumption has been made about what level of staff member might be involved (in the tampering). We hope that misperception does not result in injury to the instructional program or to the testing process required by state.”

Los Angeles district officials initially said teachers were involved but later acknowledged that they had never determined who was responsible for the tampering.