State: Student test scores not inflated by Petrilli

The Kentucky Department of Education says it hasn’t found enough evidence to support allegations that Peggy Petrilli tried to inflate student test scores at Lexington’s Booker T. Washington Academy.

Petrilli was principal at Booker T. from 2005-2007, when she resigned.

Petrilli, who is white, later sued the Fayette County schools, alleging that she was forced out to appease some Booker T. Washington parents who wanted a black principal. A Fayette Circuit Court jury rejected her claim after a trial last summer.

State Education Secretary Terry Holliday recently sent a letter to Fayette School Superintendent Stu Silberman, saying that he concurs with a state Testing Board of Review finding that “not enough evidence was found to support a violation of the Administrative Code for Kentucky’s Educational Assessment Program.” The letter did not refer to Petrilli by name.

“The case is closed as far as we are concerned,” education department spokeswoman Lisa Gross said Monday.
Read More