Setting

  

Summary:

             It is the worst time of the year for the students in the Strattenburg School District, especially Theodore Boone. The schools, divided into East Middle, West Middle, and Strattenburg Middle, are at the time of year when they have to take the statewide standardized tests. East Middle School has always had the lowest scores of the three. The tests decide if Theo will be placed in Honors classes in high school. Theo doesn't think the tests are that big of a deal while April, Theo's best friend, claims she has to have them to get a good art class. They go to school and take the first day of testing. The week goes on with more test everyday. Finally, the testing is over and the students can enjoy the weekend. The test results are revealed when the students return to school on Monday. Theo and April both missed Honors by one point. April is heartbroken. Later in the week, April meets Theo at Guff's Frozen Yogurt to tell him a big secret. April's babysitter told April that her sister, a teacher at East Middle School, was at school after hours with another group of teachers after the test. This made both Theo and April suspicious that the teachers may have changed answers to help raise East Middle's scores. The next day, April writes an anonymous letter to the School Board Explaining their concerns.  After a few days, the School Board starts to investigate the scandal. One by one the School Board investigates the teachers, trying to find as much information as possible. The Board noticed that each "student" had erased more answers than normal. If the scores were changed, this could change everyone's test scores. After the teachers refused to take a lie detector test, the police arrested them and charged them with conspiracy. The teachers were fired as well. Marcella Boone was asked to be the teacher's attorney. When she found out they had been arrested, she rushed to the courthouse and demaded that the charges be dropped. Judge Gantry said he would not drop the charges, but he would release the teachers from jail. Judge Gantry announced that the teacher's trial would be held next week. Theo wasn't allowed to go to the trial at first, but after getting a note signed by Judge Gantry himself; he was allowed to go. The teacher's defense during the trial was that they changed answers because they felt sorry for the students. The teachers said that the students at East Middle have tough home lives, and many of the students come from poorer families. They admitted that it was wrong, but claimed the students at East Middle didn't have equal learning abilities as other students when it came to the standardized test. After the witnesses spoke, and the prosecutors had their say in the trial, Judge Gantry came to a decision. The teachers are innocent, but are suspended from teaching for a year. After the trial, the School Board decided to not take the standardized test anymore. This made everyone happy. The teachers involved in the scandal and everyone that worked at the Boone & Boone Law Firm had a party in the conference room.