WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Education Department has joined an investigation into allegations that big gains in the District of Columbia schools' standardized test scores may have been the result of cheating.

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Roger Burke, a spokesman for the D.C. Inspector General tells The Washington Post that investigators from the Education Department have been active in the probe. Burke says he does not know how long federal officials have had a role.

Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson requested the investigation in March after USA Today reported more than 100 D.C. schools had unusually high rates of erasures on exams.

An Education Department spokeswoman says they do not confirm or deny investigative activity.

The probe comes amid heightened scrutiny of erasures on school exams. An investigation in Georgia recently found 178 teachers and principals had cheated.

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Information from: http://www.washingtonpost.com