By Sabrina Pickett
Staff Writer
The release of Mira Costa’s 2012 Academic Performance Index scores is delayed due to a cheating scandal in which students from 147 California schools posted images of California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting test questions on social networking sites in May 2012.
Costa’s API score is a calculation out of 1,000 points based on standardized testing scores and California High School Exit Exam results. Despite delayed release, Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale believes Costa’s score won’t vary drastically from 2011.
“The test scores looked encouraging at first,” Dale said. “So the API might go up or down a few points from last year.”
The images displayed readable test questions but not correct answers. The schools involved are at risk of decreased Academic Performance Index scores and a loss of state funding. Due to these allegations, the API release date was pushed back to late September or even as late as October.
“The schools involved in the scandal are not bad; students just made poor decisions and are facing consequences,” Dale said.
Many of the pictures posted were of student answer documents showing their bubbling to form slang terms such as “LOL.”
“I don’t think the students meant to cheat,” sophomore Sarah Keneipp said. “However, they should’ve thought about what they were doing.”
Students attending Costa didn’t upload any of the pictures taken.
“I’m glad cheating had nothing to do with us,” MBUSD Deputy Superintendent Rick Bagley said.
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