Carruth said he did not hear back from the prosecutor's office. He became concerned when the 2006 batch of tests arrived in February and nothing seemed to have happened with his allegations about Pagan. So Carruth took his complaint to the state Department of Education.

State education officials began an investigation into Carruth's allegations. About the same time, the state opened a probe of test results at other schools, sparked by questions raised by The Inquirer about scores at H.B. Wilson and U.S. Wiggins - Camden elementary schools that achieved some of the highest math scores in the state. That investigation has expanded to include 12 schools outside Camden.

Thurselle Treece, who preceded Carruth as a vice principal at Brimm, said she was not asked to rig state tests, but she witnessed grade changing - the same allegations made by Veggian in her lawsuit. Treece was assigned at Brimm from April to July 2004.

Treece, now a principal at the city's Pyne Poynt Middle School, said she notified top administrators and the school board about the grade changes. "It just appeared that they didn't want to hear anything about my concerns."

Carruth and other principals who asked that their names not be used said they were under intense demands to increase math and language-arts scores. They said Knox had told them at principals meetings that their job-performance evaluations were largely based on meeting test goals.

"People are under pressure, especially the new principals," said a veteran educator who requested anonymity.

Carruth's evaluations, obtained by The Inquirer, show the priority placed on test results. In a January 2005 evaluation, Pagan told Carruth to focus on meeting proficiency standards for math and language arts to meet the adequate yearly progress goals required under No Child Left Behind.

"Your school has always done very well in these two areas, you must continue to show this degree of success," Pagan wrote. "Show your progress, celebrate your success and do not dwell on deficiencies. Student performance must continue to increase and actions must be taken to address any identified needs. There is no choice for this action."

Carruth said he came forward because he wanted it known that the allegations should not be seen as a reflection of his students. At the recent 25th Annual Coriell Institute Science Fair, Brimm students captured first place in five categories.

"They are wondering if the colleges are going to look at them," Carruth said of the seniors. "I try to tell them nobody in the school did anything wrong. It's not the students, it's not the teachers. Don't feel ashamed of yourselves."

About Joseph Carruth

Age: 38
Personal: Raised in Lawnside. Graduate of Haddon Heights High School.
Lives in Delaware with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter.
Degrees: Undergraduate, Rutgers University. Master's, Cheyney University. Carries an A average in a doctoral program at Wilmington College, according to the college.
Career: Began teaching in the Camden School District in early 1990s. Assistant principal in the Palmyra District and Highland Regional High School in Blackwood. Hired as principal of Charles Brimm Medical Arts High in Camden on July 1, 2004.

ONLINE EXTRA For excerpts from The Inquirer's exclusive interview with Joseph Carruth , go to http://go.philly.com/carruth. For articles on the Camden schools test score investigation, go to http://go.philly.com/camdenscores.