By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer

Biddeford Middle School science and technology standardized test scores have been ruled invalid because a teacher improperly provided confidential information to students, according to the Maine Department of Education.
The department threw out Maine Educational Assessment science and technology scores for eighth-grade students because of irregularities in how the test was administered, according to school and department officials.
David Connerty-Marin, department of education spokesman, said the state launched an investigation after the March test to examine how the test was administered and to determine if the scores were valid.
“The determination was they were not,” he said.
The teacher, who has not been identified by state or school officials, was part of a panel of educators who viewed the test before it was distributed to schools across the state last spring, Connerty-Marin said.
 Teachers signed a confidentiality agreement before viewing test questions on laptop computers connected to the Internet during a meeting in Augusta, he said.  Connerty-Marin said the Biddeford teacher then provided information to his or her students prior to the test, although he could not expand on what type of information was provided.
Connerty-Marin described the situation as “very rare.” He said the department subsequently strengthened security during reviews of the test.  Laptops used by teachers to view test questions no longer will be connected to the Internet, he said. The state already has strict security measures surrounding testing procedures, he said, noting sealed tests are delivered to schools as close to the test date as possible.
Connerty-Marin said the department’s investigation into Biddeford’s test scores is complete, though it is possible the teacher’s certification is under review.  Department officials cannot confirm when teacher certification is under review because of “very strict confidentiality rules around certification investigations,” he said.
Biddeford Assistant Superintendent Jeff Porter said the Maine Department of Education notified school officials of possible irregularities with the test three to four months ago. A letter from Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron said the department of education was conducting an investigation and recommended the school department do the same, he said.
 The state told school officials in late July that the scores were invalid and would not be released, Porter said. The school department currently is conducting its own investigation into what happened, he said. Porter said the investigation does not involve talking to students.
Biddeford Superintendent of Schools Sarah-Jane Poli said the investigation is being conducted by herself, Porter, middle school principal Charles Lomonte and the school district’s attorney. The investigation started out looking at multiple teachers and was narrowed down to focus on one teacher, she said. Poli also declined to identify the teacher or any disciplinary actions, saying both were personnel matters.
Porter declined to comment on the “irregularities” surrounding test administration or if a teacher has been suspended, saying both were personnel issues.  He said students will not have to retake the test.

The Biddeford School Department currently is advertising a one-year position for an eighth-grade science teacher at the middle school. Porter said a long-term substitute has been covering classes since the start of school last week. The district would like to fill the vacancy, which is expected to last one year, he said.
The Courier has filed Maine Freedom of Access Law requests to Poli and Biddeford School Committee Chairman and Mayor Joanne Twomey for records of school committee decisions regarding the investigation, findings of the investigation and whether disciplinary actions were taken against any employee relative to an investigation.
Twomey said district test results were presented to the board at its Aug. 25 meeting. When school board members questioned why there were no eighth grade science results, they were told that would be explained in executive session because it was a personnel matter, she said.  The board met in executive session at the end of the meeting.
Twomey said Poli and Porter told the committee there were irregularities with test administration, but did not provide the names of any teacher or teachers involved.  There was action taken against the teacher, but Twomey said she could not disclose what the action was because it is a personnel issue. She also said the committee did not decide the action and members were told to expect the issue to be revisited in the future.

Twomey said it is unfortunate the test was not administered properly and is not typical for a district where students work hard.
“I’ve never heard anything like it. This is very unusual,” she said. “I’m shocked.”
Porter said the state recommends procedures for teachers administering the MEA and the school reviews guidelines before testing begins.
“We do provide training for all of our staff each year before we administer the test,” he said.
Porter said the school will do a “more in-depth” review of guidelines before testing for grades three to eight begins in October. The department of education will provide a training session for middle school teachers and representatives from other schools about proper test administration, Poli said.
 Porter said students in the district will now be evaluated based on the New England Common Assessment Program instead of the MEA.  The assessment is used to meet federal No Child Left Behind requirements for testing reading and math, he said.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.