Atlanta PS systematically cheated on achievement tests

[burk48237]

While I've agreed with many here that certainly we don't have the quality parents or students we had thirty-forty years ago and it makes education a tough job. I've also maintained that the quality of educator has gone down too. Many now enter the field because it's a good job with high job security, free weekends, summers, and great benefits, not because they feel a mission to impart wisdom and education to the next generation. There are still plenty of real good teachers, but more and more it seems the system appears is gamed against them.

Teachers and principals erased and corrected mistakes on students’ answer sheets.

Area superintendents silenced whistle-blowers and rewarded subordinates who met academic goals by any means possible

In the report, the governor’s special investigators describe an enterprise where unethical — and potentially illegal — behavior pierced every level of the bureaucracy, allowing district staff to reap praise and sometimes bonuses by misleading the children, parents and community they served.

Another time, Few ordered staff to destroy a case log of cheating-related internal investigations after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution requested it, the report said. Few told staff to replace the old log with a new, altered version. When the district finally produced the complaints, the investigators wrote, it illegally withheld cases that made it “look bad” — either because its investigation was poor or because wrongdoing received minimal sanctions.

In some schools, the report said, cheating became a routine part of administering the annual state Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. The investigators describe highly organized, coordinated efforts to falsify tests when children could not score high enough to meet the district’s self-imposed goals.

When the system is so bad that good teachers feel they have no choice but to go along with embezzlement and fraud, the system is fundamentally corrupt. And Atlanta isn't alone.

Investigation into APS cheating finds unethical behavior across every level *| ajc.com

[MJ5150]

This kind of stuff happens when you start handing out grants and awards based on student results in assessment tests.

-Mike

[Smokin' Toaster]

Or if the true situation doesn't meet the desired results and the latest social crusaders are threating to sue over it.

It's rewriting history, and that seems to be quite fashionable these days.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

This kind of stuff happens when you start handing out grants and awards based on student results in assessment tests.

True. There will always be some who will game a system if it bases reward and punishment on a narrow set of metrics. It happens in the corporate world, in sports, and elsewhere, too.

[smperry]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

This kind of stuff happens when you start handing out grants and awards based on student results in assessment tests.

-Mike

That is correct. Throughout the U.S., this has been happening for the past 15 years or so within the context of high-stakes testing.

[burk48237]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

This kind of stuff happens when you start handing out grants and awards based on student results in assessment tests.

-Mike

But that certainly doesn't excuse it. It is fundamentally flawed morality, and if the educators are doing it, the students are certainly doing it. For the record it's also a serious federal crime to commit fraud to receive federal finances. The reality is a kid doesn't stand a chance in h#$* in a school system that is systematically practicing this kind of stuff. They are just stealing tax payer dollars, and a whole lot of them I might add.

[MJ5150]

I agree with you, but I think the pressure on the educators and administrators to get those grants is filtering down to where people are modifying test results to get the grant money, or even keep their job.

I remember when my kids were in school taking those tests. The school made sure we as parents understood that federal financial aid was on the line with the test results, so we needed to make sure our kids were well rested and ready for the test each day. Back then I wondered to my wife if they were more concerned with the children or the money.

-Mike

[smperry]

Originally Posted by burk48237

But that certainly doesn't excuse it. It is fundamentally flawed morality, and if the educators are doing it, the students are certainly doing it. For the record it's also a serious federal crime to commit fraud to receive federal finances. The reality is a kid doesn't stand a chance in h#$* in a school system that is systematically practicing this kind of stuff. They are just stealing tax payer dollars, and a whole lot of them I might add.

No, it doesn't excuse it.

I'm not sure what you mean about a kid not standing a chance, and I don't think schools are "just stealing" (they're teaching, feeding, providing social services too) but I agree with much of what you're saying...the system has major flaws, including perverse incentives (to cheat & lie). There are several practices common in U.S. schools that I find problematic. High-stakes testing, as it is commonly done is one of those IMO. Manipulating data is another.

Again, I agree that high-stakes testing is not an excuse.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by smperry

No, it doesn't excuse it.

I'm not sure what you mean about a kid not standing a chance, and I don't think schools are "just stealing" (they're teaching, feeding, providing social services too) but I agree with much of what you're saying...the system has major flaws, including perverse incentives (to cheat & lie). There are several practices common in U.S. schools that I find problematic. High-stakes testing, as it is commonly done is one of those IMO. Manipulating data is another.

Again, I agree that high-stakes testing is not an excuse.

Manipulating a system for personal advancement is just about as unethical as it gets.

Damn near as unethical as setting up a system so easily manipulated in the first place.

[smperry]

Originally Posted by Gard

Manipulating a system for personal advancement is just about as unethical as it gets.

Damn near as unethical as setting up a system so easily manipulated in the first place.

Where did I say it's not unethical? I didn't and don't think it's ok. And, how are you sure it's for personal advancement?

Do you think other systems don't have cheating? Or, do you think it's more rampant in the school system?

Man, people love to beat up on schools.

[smperry]

Scores on international assessments have been steadily rising. A higher proportion of subgroups are graduating.

There's plenty of work to be done, but schools and teachers aren't suddenly getting worse.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

These educators should get jobs in private industry, where such tactics are often looked upon more favorably.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by smperry

Where did I say it's not unethical? I didn't and don't think it's ok. And, how are you sure it's for personal advancement?

Do you think other systems don't have cheating? Or, do you think it's more rampant in the school system?

Man, people love to beat up on schools.

WHOA!!!



We're on the same side, Marshall.

I'm pointing out the fact that the system is the problem, and that the really unethical part of it is the system of teaching to a standardized test instead of TEACHING. Those that I consider most unethical here are those that set this system up - NOT the teachers, who fought against this system, and correctly so, IMO...any further detail will cross the "no political discussion" lines further than I already have.

[smperry]

ok, foot out of mouth. apologies. Beer when I visit my family in NC.

And, yeah, I don't want to encourage going into politics, but agreed with all.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by smperry

ok, foot out of mouth. apologies. Beer when I visit my family in NC.

Only if I get the second round, and we alternate afterward. Deal?

Bring your basses, I really would love to check Martin's work out!

[smperry]

Done deal!

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by smperry

Man, people love to beat up on schools.

Yeah, I kind of jumped in on that too. I shouldn't have. But I do have a good story to tell about schools. I'll make it brief...

I was organizing a group of friends to attend a AAA baseball game a couple weeks ago. The salesperson I was working with had the same last name as one of my favorite school teachers. So I ask her if she is related, she ends up being the daughter of this teacher. I ask her to tell her dad I said hello. She gives me his e-mail address, so I sent a long email letting him know how much of an impact he had on my life and that I still apply the things he taught me to this day. He replies back that he still teaches the same class and asks if I would be interested in coming in for a day next school year to speak to the students on the subject. I agreed. I really felt like he had to know how thankful I am for the time he spent helping me over 20 years ago. Part of my success today is due to him.

-Mike

[smperry]

[burk48237]

Originally Posted by smperry

That is correct. Throughout the U.S., this has been happening for the past 15 years or so within the context of high-stakes testing.

Question, I hear this phrase "teaching to the test" a lot, how is it wrong to "teach to the test"?

Shouldn't we expect teachers to impart certain levels of knowledge to students appropriate to their grade level? And if the students don't retain it, shouldn't the teacher fail them?

If you want to argue the test is asking wrong questions, fine. But students can't learn to think for themselves without basic skills. If a student does know how to read, give basic change at a cash register, know some basic geography and history, how can we expect them to fine gainful employment or even make basic common sense decisions?

I just don't get how standardized testing is a bad thing. Again, if someone can convince me the questions are wrong , that's a valid criticism.

[bassface73]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Question, I hear this phrase "teaching to the test" a lot, how is it wrong to "teach to the test"?

Shouldn't we expect teachers to impart certain levels of knowledge to students appropriate to their grade level? And if the students don't retain it, shouldn't the teacher fail them?

If you want to argue the test is asking wrong questions, fine. But students can't learn to think for themselves without basic skills. If a student does know how to read, give basic change at a cash register, know some basic geography and history, how can we expect them to fine gainful employment or even make basic common sense decisions?

I just don't get how standardized testing is a bad thing. Again, if someone can convince me the questions are wrong , that's a valid criticism.

This quote sums it up nicely...

""Measurements are not to provide numbers but insight." - Ingrid Bucher

You can teach a child to do well on a test, but are they learning the subject properly? The answer is "no" across the board. Ask teachers, you will see that it's the case. If you teach the children what is on a test, they will know how to answer specific questions without truly understanding the topic in many cases. Yes, you need to teach them basic skills, but not all third graders learn or understand at the same level. You cannot give all of the students the same exam and expect them to all score the same or even close. Standardized testing can allow the teacher to see how a student has improved from year to year, which is helpful.

I recently saw some testing scores of an third grade student and they were relatively low...FCAT 2 and 3 scores, BUT...he is considered gifted....GIFTED?!?!? Oh yeah, he doesn't speak English well. Is he on the same level as a third grader who scored a 2 who speaks English? Not even close. NCLB and standardized testing puts everyone in the same boat....and then sinks it!!