NYC Chancellor Announces Anti-Cheating Task Force

A new task force to monitor academic integrity in New York City schools was announced Tuesday by Chancellor Carmen Farina, who said principals and guidance counselors will have to attend additional training sessions to help them maintain high standards.

“Giving students the tools and skills they need to thrive is why we became educators, and when we don’t follow the policies that facilitate that work, we are selling our students — and ourselves — short,” Farina said in an email to principals.

The task force will provide oversight, as well as training, and will produce biannual reports on how well schools are implementing academic guidelines, the city Department of Education said in a release.

The announcement comes after the principal of Brooklyn’s John Dewey High School was fired last month for allowing students to earn passing grades without attending class or turning in any work.

Farina said she is “sending a clear message that violating academic policies will not be tolerated.”

The new initiative is expected to cost about $5 million.

This article appeared in print on page 16 of the August 5th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.