VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Over 50 test results were “invalidated” at Mainland High School after students were allowed to use cell phones during an exam, according to state records.
In an investigative report, district officials explained that a staff member allowed 57 students in a Business Ownership class to use their phones during an Industry Certification Test on Jan. 25.
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According to the report, the staff member believed it was OK to allow students to use their phones during the “calculator portion” of the test because it was a common practice for her to do so.
That staff member also did the same for students taking the Industry Certification Test at Deltona High School, the report shows. However, there was no information provided about whether any tests at that school were invalidated.
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“Students were told they were able to use their phones for the math problems only due to the platform calculator being difficult to use,” the report reads.
However, investigators said that the use of cell phones violated the testing requirements.
District officials said that a teacher at Mainland High School noticed the test results “showed significant gains,” prompting the investigation.
“A student told her (he) was allowed to use his pretest while testing...” the report says. “While doing this, she noticed students with their phones out — a violation.”
As a result, the 53 Mainland High School students who passed the test had their results invalidated, investigators added.
No additional information was provided, including whether students will have the chance to retake these tests.
News 6 reached out to the school district for more information and is awaiting a response.
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