The commission charged with improving Philadelphia's school system has fired three high school principals and plans to discipline dozens of other teachers and administrators following an investigation into alleged cheating on standardized tests.
The actions announced Thursday night by the School Reform Commission follow a probe that began after allegations of cheating on the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams.
Superintendent William Hite Jr. said those involved “acted neither in the best interests of our schools nor our students.”
Robert McGrogan, president of the union that represents administrators, said manipulation or inflation of test results had cast a cloud over the district, but questioned the findings, saying “inference and speculation” have been used in some cases. Those accused can appeal to the commission or through arbitration.
