The San Diego Unified School Board voted unanimously Thursday to take legal action against the College Board after Advanced Placement (AP) test scores from Scripps Ranch High School were invalidated.

UPDATE: The Board of Education has voted 4-0 to pursue legal action against the invalidation of AP test scores from Scripps Ranch High. — San Diego Unified (@sdschools) July 7, 2017

A cheating student sparked the investigation leading to AP test scores being thrown out, according to school district officials Wednesday night.

Before this, the district had said the tests were void because the seats were placed too close together during the exams.

The scores were invalidated on June 28 by the College Board and its test administrator Educational Testing Services.

More than 540 local students must retake the exam if they want college credit.

Hundreds of parents and students blamed test administrators and the school board for the mistake.

"This is no error. This is the sheer consequence of just gross negligence," one parent said.

"We think the College Board has a little too much say in how this can and cannot play out," Scripps Ranch High School graduate Ryan Tannenberg said.



In a closed session meeting Thursday night, the school board voted 4-0 to pursue legal action in the issue.

For many students, the decision was energizing and gave them hope their scores wouldn't be thrown out.

"Couldn't be better. If we go to court and reinstate our scores, that [is] good for everyone," Tannenberg said.

Rudy Lee, a junior at the school, said the outcome of a lawsuit is uncertain, but it's worth trying.

"This is one step further in doing what the right thing is," Lee said.

The school board could file a complaint as early as Friday.