College Board cancels AP English scores at Manatee High due to unauthorized person in room

Tests taken by 249 advanced-placement English students at Manatee High School this school year will not count.

The district notified families on Wednesday that the College Board, the non-profit that administers advanced placement tests, had canceled Manatee High’s AP English language and composition and AP English literature and composition test scores because an unauthorized person was in the room during the test. District spokeswoman Linda Lambert said letters explaining the situation had been mailed to parents, and parents should have received an automated phone call explaining the situation.

The tests, which are the culmination of a yearlong rigorous course, can give students college credit. According to the letter that went home to parents, students can retake the test on June 29 at Manatee High School. Students who do not retake the test cannot earn college credit for the course, but they will still receive advanced placement credit for taking the class in their grade-point average.

Don Sauer, the former principal at Manatee High and the current supervisor of student demographics, projections and assignment, told parents that Manatee had appealed the College Board’s decision unsuccessfully.

“The school appealed this decision vigorously and provided information to support that the perceived conflict of interest did not occur and firmly believes the testing environment was not compromised,” Sauer wrote. “After review, the College Board stood by the original decision to cancel scores.”

Sauer said the violation occurred when a teacher who had previously taught AP literature helped administer the exam in the gymnasium at West Bradenton Baptist. He said that teacher did not interact with students during the test and simply read the instructions from the stage, but having an English teacher in the room violated College Board’s rules.

A class of students who took the AP language test in a separate classroom did not have its scores canceled.

“Unfortunately we made that mistake, and it hurt my kids,” Sauer said. “It’s awful. I’m devastated.”

College Board spokeswoman Jaslee Carayol emailed a statement to the Bradenton Herald.

“We are committed to ensuring the integrity of each administration and to delivering valid, reliable AP scores to students, high schools, and colleges and universities,” Carayol said. “Following testing policies and procedures is essential to ensuring a fair and standard testing experience for all students.”

Don Falls, a Manatee High School economics and government teacher who teaches AP courses, said AP tests require substantial preparation and carry a lot of weight.

“For kids, it’s really important to them. They want to do well on the test because it potentially could mean college credit,” Falls said. “There’s a lot at stake in these tests.”

The school is offering review sessions to help students prepare for the retest from June 26-28 at the school. AP literature prep will run from 9-11 a.m., and AP language prep will run from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

“I deeply apologize for the hardship and added stress that this may bring to the Hurricane students, families and community,” Sauer wrote in the letter to parents.

This story was originally published June 14, 2017 at 4:16 PM with the headline "College Board cancels AP English scores at Manatee High due to unauthorized person in room."