Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.Commissioner

Massachusetts Department ofElementary and Secondary Education75 Pleasant Street, Maiden, Massachusetts 02148-4906 Telephone: (781) 338-3000

TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370

June 20,2014

Daniel J. Warwick, SuperintendentSpringfield Public Schools1550 Main Street

Springfield, MA 01103

Dear Superintendent Warwick:

As you know, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been conducting aninvestigation into anomalous MCAS test results at the Mary A. Dryden Veterans MemorialSchool. Based upon the findings of the investigation to date, I am convinced that the testadministrations in the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 were compromised, and that student- andschool-level results from those years are not valid. Consequently, the Department willimmediately invalidate Dryden Memorial School's MCAS test results in English Language Arts(ELA), Mathematics, and Science and Technology/Engineering for all grades for 2011, 2012,and 2013.

I want to make clear that there is no evidence to suggest that students were at fault or played anyrole in the testing irregularities.

The Department began its investigation when routine analyses showed statistical anomalies inDryden Memorial School's MCAS test results in recent years, including large increases instudent achievement from one year to the next, and disparities between students' performance onmultiple-choice questions compared to their performance on open-response questions. TheDepartment's investigation has revealed widespread erasures of students' responses to multiple-choice questions, and the replacement of incorrect answers with correct answers. TheDepartment has also conducted analyses that showed significant declines in MCAS scores andStudent Growth Percentiles for Dryden graduates who enter Springfield middle schools.

Given the uncertainty surrounding prior years' results, the Department worked closely with youroffice this spring to preserve the integrity of the spring 2014 MCAS administration and ensurethe validity of the results. We did so by requesting that your office monitor and coordinate theMCAS test administrations, with Department oversight, at Dryden Memorial School, and thatyou maintain custody of the test materials in secure storage at the district central office whenthey were not at the school for testing. I want to thank you and the district's staff for your fullcooperation with this request. Based on the district's reports and our first-hand observations of

the test administrations, we have confidence that the 2014 test results are valid. Accordingly, theDepartment will report 2014 results for Dryden Memorial School. However, due to theinvalidation ofprior years' results, students will not receive student growth scores with their2014 results.

It is clear that MCAS answer booklets at Dryden Memorial School were tampered with andcompromised in the years 2011,2012, and 2013.1 am deeply troubled by this finding becausesuch actions undermine the hard work, integrity, and commitment of Springfield's educators andstudents. These actions deny parents, educators, and the community critical insights intostudents' academic achievement and progress.

I know that you take this matter as seriously as I do. I appreciate your continued cooperationwith the Department's ongoing investigation.

Sincerely,

Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education