If there is any hope of getting to the bottom of what went on in the Washington schools — whether Ms. Rhee is as amazing as Mr. Duncan said, or whether test scores were inflated by cheating — it is through the inquiry by the inspector general. (Catherine Grant, a spokeswoman for the office, confirmed that an investigation was under way, but would not give details.)
Ms. Rhee’s reputation as a national leader of the education reform movement has rested on those test scores, which soared while she was chancellor. Then, last March, USA Today published the results of a yearlong investigation of the Washington schools that found a high rate of erasures on tests as well as suspiciously large gains at 41 schools — one-third of the elementary and middle schools in the district.
Since then, Ms. Rhee has refused to talk to the reporters who know the story best, although she has been talking to many other people.
Rhee belongs in jail, and Duncan needs to be booted out of government, the same as his boss.
Michael Winerip is a great reporter who should get a Pulitzer. He keeps digging and digging.
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