BOSTON (AP) - State education officials are investigating
whether a Springfield charter school that significantly improved
its MCAS scores violated testing rules.

The Robert Hughes Academy showed an unusually large improvement
last spring compared with other schools. The state had ordered
Hughes Academy to improve student scores by next year.

Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester said Tuesday he takes
the matter "very seriously."

Chester's comment, reported in The Boston Globe, followed an
e-mail the school's principal sent to media and state officials
describing the investigation.

Janet Henry said two teachers accused her of telling them to
have students recheck their work on the MCAS. That would violate
state rules. She denied any wrongdoing by the school.

Henry, who was placed on leave Monday by the school's trustees,
also accused trustees of improperly managing the school.
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Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe