CRCT tampering: Crisis in confidence, character and conscience for APS
In a jaw-dropping meeting with Gov. Sonny Perdue and his staff Tuesday, the AJC learned that a review of all 2009 CRCT answer sheets identified 74 “severe” elementary and middle schools schools in which there appeared to be widespread answer-sheet tampering. The worst offender was Atlanta Public Schools in which cheating appears to have occurred in 37 of its 55 elementary schools.
Here is the link to the AJC searchable database of all schools. Here is a link to the list of severe-only schools. Here is a link to the detailed news story.And this takes you to a map. Here is a new map created Friday.
Responding to earlier evidence of cheating, including an analysis by the AJC, the state had every 2009 answer sheet reviewed to measure how often kids changed wrong answers to right by virtue of erasures on the sheets. Because every test sheet was checked, the state was able to develop a reliable index of how often test answers were changed from wrong to right and flag schools that had inordinate occurrences of answer changes, right down to the classroom level.
It then flagged schools that had higher-than-average numbers of wrong -to-right answers, and found troubling patterns, most of which occurred in Atlanta schools and in Dougherty County schools. To understand, look at third grade math scores. Reviewing the answer sheets of 125,000 third graders, the state found that the average student changed 1.87 answers from wrong to right.
If there was a third-grade classroom in which the students on average changed 4.8 answers from wrong to right, a flag went up, said Kathleen Mathers, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. “That change was so much bigger than what we saw in classrooms across the state.”
APS Superintendent Beverly Hall must address a culture of cheating in her schools that threatens all her reform efforts.
Then, the state examined how each individual class performed on the test and how many answers went from incorrect to correct. They compared each classroom to the state average. To be flagged, the changes from wrong to right answers had to be well above state average, so much so that it could not be a matter of chance. Then, the state looked at the schools as a whole and found widespread instances of improbable answer changes.
On its list of the 74 schools with the highest number of classrooms with questionable – unbelievable, in fact – erasures from wrong to right, APS has 43 schools and Dougherty has eight schools.
Out of the 74 flagged schools, DeKalb had six schools including the much acclaimed DeKalb Path Academy Charter School. Fulton has three schools. Clayton has two schools, including Lewis Academy of Excellence, a charter school that appeared before the state board of education this morning to plead for a reconsideration of state charter status, citing its academic achievement and its performance on state tests.
No Gwinnett, Cobb, Fayette, Cherokee, Rockdale, Decatur, Forsyth or Henry schools are on the list of 74.
With evidence suggesting that tampering of test sheets took place in 67 percent of its 55 elementary schools, Atlanta Public Schools is now facing a crisis in culture, confidence, conscience and character.
This data show that a culture of cheating exists in Atlanta schools, a culture that may have taken root before reform-minded Superintendent Beverly Hall arrived a decade ago or may be a result of her relentless pressure on her schools to improve and do it quickly.
Either way, this culture cannot be tolerated and must be banished, even if it means a wholesale firing of staff. (I suspect that some will call for Hall’s firing. If the cheating traces back to her, she will have to resign. There may well be a case to be made that she should have known that this was going on in her district.)
This is not a few bad apples. This is rot to the core of APS and it cannot be addressed with training or memos. The shakeup at APS should bounce desks off the floor and rattle pictures off the walls.
Otherwise, how can parents know if their kids are learning if test results are not valid?
On the issue of conscience, how could schools – including some in which eight out of 10 classrooms had compelling evidence of cheating — promote students to the next grade who were not able to do the work, yet had soaring CRCT scores?
This is educational malpractice of the worst kind.
It not only hurts the children, but it victimizes the next teacher in the chain who can’t understand why her student who scored proficient in reading the year before now can’t sound out a sentence. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, those students may have qualified for tutoring based on their undoctored scores, says Mathers, of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. “Students were deprived of those opportunities.”
Superintendent Hall should not waste a minute arguing with the state’s findings. As a clearly concerned Gov. Perdue told us yesterday in an hour-long meeting, “The facts are what the facts are. Trust me, we will not allow this to be whitewashed. I can’t think of any superintendent who has the students’ best interests at heart who won’t want to find out what happened and where.”
Gov. Perdue met with the AJC Tuesday to share a stunning study of how often test answers were changed on last year's CRCTs.
Perdue said he is counting on systems to investigate and right any wrongs, including getting true assessments of their students and providing academic help to kids who aren’t really proficient.
“There is strong evidence here,” he said. “It is not my job to impugn or indict any one person or school. I may change my mind as I go down the line.”
When you look at the lists – and our AJC technical staffers have been working all night to get this data from the state in easy-to-use form for you — you will see that the schools with the greatest instances of tampering are poor and minority. These are the schools that have the farthest to go to get their kids to proficiency on state tests.
You do not see the suburban powerhouse counties on the list. I also have to note that some districts with high poverty enrollments are not on the list. (Along with the 74 truly problematic schools, the state assembled a list of 117 schools with moderately troubling test irregularities.) So, between the severe- and moderate-concern schools, there are 191 or 10 percent of the state’s elementary and middle schools that have test results that merit monitoring.
But the searing findings raise so many questions. Where did the cheating take place — in the classroom or after the answer sheets were turned into the school offices?
In some instances, as many as 48 answers on a test sheet were changed from wrong to right. Why would a teacher or principal go that far to ensure a single student passed? How desperate were they?
Are the honest teachers turning a blind eye or are their complaints ignored?
How does APS rebuild after this? Why did so many Atlanta schools resort to cheating when national testing showed that APS was, in fact, raising achievement? Or, are those test results now in doubt, too?
How can teachers at the 43 APS schools on the state’s most extreme list go to work tomorrow knowing that all their good work – and there is clearly some good work amid this wreckage – is now in question?
We need to talk about whether we are asking too much of students or too little of schools?
Let’s start.
(I just received the official statement from GOSA on this and am tacking it on here as it gives more information on the process:
The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) today released the results of a spring 2009 Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) erasure analysis. GOSA partnered with CTB-McGraw Hill (CTB), the state’s testing vendor in charge of developing and scoring CRCT exams, to conduct a comprehensive examination of all statewide CRCT answer documents for grades 1 through 8. The analysis focused on the number of wrong answers that had been changed to right answers on individual student answer sheets in Reading, English-Language Arts, and Mathematics.
“The analysis looked on average at 125,000 test takers in every subject and grade level at which the CRCT was administered and provided a clear picture of typical student test behavior against which all schools could be compared,” said GOSA Executive Director, Kathleen Mathers. “Our recommendations are intended to eliminate future problems and help students who have been adversely affected by test tampering.”
In the analysis, CTB psychometricians scanned answer documents to identify total erasures per classroom, flagging those classrooms in which the number of wrong-to-right changes proved to be three standard deviations (SDs) or more above the state average. Less than 0.15% of test takers would be expected to fall in that range naturally.
Based on the analysis, schools were placed in varying categories according to their percentage of flagged classrooms. 80% of Georgia’s elementary and middle schools fell into the “Clear” category, meaning less than 6% of the classes within a given school were flagged; 10% fell into the “Minimal Concern” category with 6%-10% of classes flagged; 6% were determined to be in the “Moderate Concern” category with 11%-24% of classes flagged; and only 4% were termed “Severe Concern” as defined by a school having 25% or more of its classes flagged for wrong-to-right changes.
Recommendations on which the State Board of Education will vote range from requiring local Superintendents to conduct internal investigations to determine the causes of testing irregularities to schools rotating teachers during the 2010 CRCT test administration so that they administer the test to students they have not taught. In addition, state monitors will be placed in all schools in the severe concern category during this spring’s test.
“Important decisions will be made from this data that are critical to the future of Georgia’s children,” said GOSA Deputy Director, Dr. Eric Wearne. “Overall, Georgia’s schools are performing well and continue to excel in student achievement.”
The CRCT is a standardized assessment given to students in grades 1-8 in Georgia. The test is designed to measure how well students at each grade level have learned the state’s curriculum. CRCT results are used to determine whether schools have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
GOSA plans future analyses of standardized test scores, possibly including End of Course Tests (EOCT) and Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and will also examine graduation and dropout rates and other factors that determine student achievement. Please visit www.gaosa.org to see the full 2009 CRCT erasure analysis report.
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216 comments Add your comment
Maureen Downey
February 11th, 2010
3:21 pm
Sub, Just sat in a hourlong interview with Dr. Hall where several of us asked her about whether teachers could have reported cheating without fear or reprisals. She cites a hotline that teachers could have called. Is that the case?
Maureen
Mac
February 11th, 2010
3:48 pm
“Hell seeth no fury like a principal who has it in for a teacher.”
I’ll go one better – no fury like a Superintendent who has it in for a principal! Got that t-shirt.
Elsie
February 11th, 2010
4:11 pm
Maureen,
I looked up Glynn County (Burroughs-Mollette Elementary) on the results page. This school was marked “Clear- 0.0%”. How can this be true, since BMES was one of the schools in the first investigation? What am I missing?
Maureen Downey
February 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
Elsie,
Because these results are based on 2009 tests, and the initial investigation was based on 2008. From our story on this:
RickinATL
February 11th, 2010
4:40 pm
This is not only a career-ender for Bev Hall, but a legacy-killer. She must be heartbroken to be faced with the fact that she didn’t build anything at APS but a culture where fearful teachers cheated to protect their own skins. By ONCE AGAIN playing the “if only we could be sure” card in the face of enormous evidence, Hall once again reveals she truly only has one interest at heart: self-preservation. It won’t be enough.
Public Schools = Child Abuse
February 11th, 2010
4:48 pm
It’s simple, no child left behind equates to no dollar left behind. School administrators know, that the right amount of progress on these test grades mean more money for their school or district. What is best for the student never comes to mind it’s all about how they can work the system to get the most money back.
Public schools have fallen into such a sad state in the past decade or so, and it seems to coincide with more federal government influence on school.
Maude
February 11th, 2010
5:17 pm
Cheating on test in APS is old history! The APS schools not on this list just cheated another way. They probaly just told the kids the correct answers to start with. I guess the other schools didn’t get the memo.
Elsie
February 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
Maureen-
.
Thank you for the clarification! I knew there had to be something I was missing
Thanks!
Willis for State Superintendent
February 11th, 2010
5:48 pm
Ben, I guess I am now a politician, and I completely agree that neither all children are bound for college nor do many want to go.
Why is the legislature going to pass a Bill that has NO PLAN?
Why are we continually failing students at the school level with no accountability for the DOE?
Why are teachers scared to report principals and area superintendents?
Because there is only accountability for teachers. There is no accountability for assistant principals, principals, areas supts, and up the ladder.
Perdue talks about making schools a business, but the only people who are held accountable are the teachers.
We need a partnership with schools, administrators, teachers, parents, students, and the communities. We HAVE to have this in order for our children to succeed.
http://willisforstatesuper.webs.com
StudiesWithTheirChild
February 11th, 2010
5:56 pm
You know your kid is learning because you spend time with them doing homework…..
Willis for State Superintendent
February 11th, 2010
6:02 pm
Sorry…I should have said that not all students want to go to university.
sad APS Dad
February 11th, 2010
7:21 pm
As the parent of two APS students, it doesn’t take a statistical study to know APS has problems with cheating on the CRCT. Half of the school year is spent on preparing for the test and yet only 70% of the students meet expectations, evidently, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CHEATING. All you need to know about the status of APS you learn when it is time to send your kid to middle school. As there are only two academically acceptable middle schools in the APS system, and we all know which schools I’m referencing, I face almost impossible odds trying to get my kids a decent education. Adding insult to injury, our neighborhood middle school EXPELS low-performing students prior to the CRCT exam so the school will meet the minimum goal. That keeps the school in good standing and prevents parents from having the freedom to transfer their kids to the better schools. So, you ask the questions that every concerned parent with a rising 6th grader asks: why are these two schools the ONLY high performing middle schools in APS? What are they doing at these two schools that isn’t being done in the other APS middle schools? Why has it been this way for DECADES and APS hasn’t figured out a way to change this? Why doesn’t anyone think the lack of quality middle schools throughout the APS system is a major problem?
So, what should a concerned parent do? Move and take the loss on the house? Lie and cheat to get my kids into a better school system? Spend thousands of dollars on private middle school? Or take my chance in a lottery for a general transfer for my kid? I don’t know about you, but I’m working on private school apps this weekend…
Brain
February 11th, 2010
8:26 pm
I’m not sure who’s to credit for breaking this story, but I’m glad it’s receiving some press. The big crime is that it’s not receiving more press – locally and nationally.
APS has been a piggybank for corrupt administrators and their cronies for 30+ years. The losers are the citizens of GA and, in particular, the students who attend APS schools. Not much will change, however, until the citizens of the City of Atlanta demand more of their schools and their administrators. All I see and read is apathy from said parents and citizens.
Terry Davis
February 11th, 2010
8:27 pm
I work for APS and I think it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I think the bigger issues what happened to those Teachers who reported cheating and how were they treated. I think the OIR department has some explaining to do as well. I just think they will find a pattern of covering up.
Terry Davis
February 11th, 2010
8:32 pm
@sad APS Dad I have two kids in APS too. I can tell you what they are doing. Their principals are refusing to take certain kids!! They dump the low kids in the other schools. I use to work another middle school and we got kids all of the time, that were not in our district zone, but that were kicked out of those schools. They are sabotaging some schools and the others they say nothing when they transfer them out, or refuse to take them.
Since when does a principal have an option to not accept a student. Well at those schools they can and do. So it might not be every time, but it does happen more often than not. Trust me on that.
Dewitt
February 11th, 2010
8:43 pm
I totally agree with all of Shar’s statements;I am a former administrator of APS.
cheating hurts us all!
February 11th, 2010
8:43 pm
It really stinks to know that the fact that I’ve taught with integrity, come early, stayed late, tutored in my free time (without pay), begged parents to take more interest, and spent my own money to help kids have basic materials and clothes has resulted in being accused of cheating, lying and abusing children.
I became a teacher because I believed that children in public schools deserve the same great education many children get in private school. I became a teacher to stop talking about how messed up our public schools are and actually do something about it. I hate the bureaucracy and the lack of parental involvement, but I love the children. I have worked hard for years to teach them NOT to cheat because it hurts everyone! I hate to think that all the time, money, energy, and stress I’ve spent trying to be a better teacher has been for nothing. People don’t respect the work I’m doing, and they believe we are only in this for money or to “save our skins”.
Not every teacher is cheating or so concerned with appearances that they will do anything to “raise the scores”. I told my principal when I interviewed for my current position that I don’t teach just for a test. I teach so my students will be ready for the world they inhabit. I still believe that. If the only thing we want to do is make sure they pass the test, what do we need school for? Why are we even arguing about any of this? There wouldn’t be a need for any of the hoops I’m constantly having to jump through to remain certified if the only purpose I’m serving is to tell kids the right circle to fill in.
I’m sure there are cheaters in APS. I haven’t seen any, and I don’t have first hand knowledge, but I’m not stupid. I’ve gotten children in my classroom over the years who have passing test scores and can’t read “see Spot run”. I have to take the children as they come to me, but I’m not going to cheat them by saying they are rocket scientists when they aren’t. I’ve been criticized for grading “too harshly” by parents who aren’t willing to read to or with their kids, but will do homework for them (which in my opinion is cheating…).
I want the cheating to stop. I want the hard work our students and good teachers are doing to mean something. I only hope this mess will lead more people to take an increased interest in their children’s educations, and to be more involved all year long (not to only be concerned when test scores are released).
Now What?
February 11th, 2010
9:52 pm
Maureen, if you want to keep your job, you CANNOT tell. Period. The hotlines are not given to teachers. So, the only way to find them would be to know someone with that info or to “happen upon it”. Even then, they want your name. NOTHING is anonymous with APS. They’re like the mob. They have connections everywhere -at the paper, DOE, etc… And, if they do something to “get you” for telling, there’s really nothing you can do about it but quit. There’s no one to tell who would really do something about it. So, teachers remain quiet and deal with it.
Ole Guy
February 11th, 2010
10:50 pm
How does one earn…I say EARN…the title “Super of the Year”, when there appears to be a tremendous amount of turmoil within that over which the super reins? Incredible how the ed system has become so watered down, from the very top on down.
Private School Parent
February 11th, 2010
10:52 pm
Well looks like we will have our burger flippers and ditch diggers for another generation from APS.
Maureen, I politely disagree
February 11th, 2010
10:53 pm
Maureen, I have, first hand, listed on this blog schools, principals and issued in a very specific manner over the past 1-2 years in regard to mishandling of teachers, ethics and school district mishandling yet it has fallen on deaf ears. Even your predecessor did not ever so much as look into issues. I have written letters directly to Cathy Cox and NUMEROUS journalistic agencies to no avail. Teachers need a voice. Journalists have the platform to at least “inquire” about issues, especially ones that reoccur.
What you are hearing from educators is more of the norm than you are giving credit. Teacher abuse is widespread and deep. Just today on the news teachers, in reference to this CRCT scandal, admitted to being afraid to talk about the problem. That itself should be an indication of a problem. Retaliation is REAL in public education.
Private School Parent
February 11th, 2010
10:53 pm
Cry me a river about these bloggers complaining about the “pressure” of having standardized tests. Get a clue…..you compete everyday with your fellow citizen for the limited resources and your own unlimited wants. When you enter the private workforce you will understand a little bit more about pressure.
The Man
February 11th, 2010
11:00 pm
Well it looks like I don’t have to keep you folks down all by myself……….you are doing quite a good job of keeping yourselves down.
former APS employee
February 12th, 2010
2:08 am
I have seen first hand how coming against the Atlanta Public School System has lead to the demise of many rightful employees because fighting against the people and money resources of APS is like fighting Goliath. Due to fear of retaliation, there have been many anonymous complaints issued against APS for unethical conduct, I having sent many myself to the AJC, State of Georgia, Attorney General, GE, The Bill Gates foundation and anyone who would listen. Nothing happened and I quickly found out that APS has connections that run deep throughout everywhere. I have never heard of a number to report testing violations but what I do know is that nothing is anonymous in Atlanta – nothing.
APS Teacher/Middle School
February 12th, 2010
2:36 am
It is unfortunate that teachers are held accountable for everything…that’s why the cheating! Parents send their children to school and think nothing else of it. Teachers are left with disciplining the kids and educating them as well. Why such emphasis on this test? Teachers can teach but they cannot put the desire to do well in the students…this leads to cheating. I am not a cheater…I teach and yes…I pray for my students…that’s all I can do? PARENTS, I call you to step up and do your job. We need to hear from you before you kids fail our classes. We need you to email, volunteer, and check up on your kids year ’round. We cannot do it alone.
APS employee
February 12th, 2010
3:47 am
You have to be strong. It takes guts to be a whistle blower. I did it. And, I know they are coming for me. Wrong is wrong. We are graduating a generation of children that we as educators have cheated. We have to challenge our students and do the right thing. They are already trying to get students to report me to OIR for demanding that they do the work required on time. Watch it. Do not tell grown kids to be quiet and read a passage silently. You have hurt someone’s feelings. It was worth it. I can hold my head high. And my name is visible but there were 10 teachers behind me APS. I am taking one for the team. Keep digging AJC. There are still some honest teachers in APS. I am one. Cheating is rampant. Coaching is rampant. Teaching to the test is rampant. God save our children and teachers from this mess in APS.
Furious
February 12th, 2010
8:24 am
Where is the outrage from the APS leadership? Where is the concern for the kids? Testing has its flaws but in Georgia we one of the lowest ranking states in the country in school test scores. So is our answer.. cheating… Is our answer.. look the other way.. these students are our future leaders that will be hurt by the actions of the APS leadership today….
The leadership must be fired.. cheating must stop.. and real educational progress must be pursued..
Chuck
February 12th, 2010
8:54 am
Theft by deception to obtain Federal monies, I believe, should involve the Federal Government.
Attorney General Eric Holder should be notified officially of these findings and, since we are talking Federal Monies, perhaps even the President should way in on this.
This is way more important than Skippy Gates. If theses allogations are correct, are we not talking conspiracy against the Federal Government, State Government, County Government, City Governments, etc. Are these wrongs violating these students civil rights? My my what a tangled web we weave, when we learn how to decieve.
Brad
February 12th, 2010
9:01 am
I am a City of Atlanta resident, and have a 16 year old son. When we decided years ago to not give our son to APS, we took a lot a grief from other parents in the neighborhood who seemed to think we were either fascist, racist, or elitist. Payback is hell.
Brain
February 12th, 2010
9:08 am
Furious, the “leadership” of which you speak IS the problem. There is a ton of parental apathy within APS. The schools that “perform” , not coincidentally, have very active parental participation in those schools.
Until the apathetic masses within the City of Atlanta demand real accountability and change , not much will change. APS will continue to be an ATM machine for the board and their cronies.
New APS
February 12th, 2010
9:35 am
Let me tell you what happens when you report.If you are Black you are treated like your concerns are not important, and all year long your are harassed by the principal.I know some teachers who were the best in the school system never cheated had a great track record. Reported a concern and now they are gone.If your are White in the school system they listen and try to fix the problem.
This is so much more that about the CRCT.You really need to did a little deeper into what the real issues are.Black principals, White principals. You would not believe the difference of how they are treated.What there schools get ,how they are given a slap on the wrist. White principals and teacher told just don’t do that again. Black principals and teachers written up but on a PDP.This is what happen daily in APS.
Echo
February 12th, 2010
10:57 am
Before leaving this thread, I must reference the apparent ignorance of those that refer to distant learning…online study…as bought degrees. I am a retired teacher and did not have this access when I was studying; however, I am progressive enough in my thinking and awareness of viable options to know that this option is a great benefit to those who need this kind of occommodation.
I know people who have pursued the online availability to EARN a degree, and I know for a fact that they work extremely hard, often harder than on sight learners. There are, I am sure, some outlets that are less stellar than others, but I also know that it is not a sneeze to study online. It takes sheer discipline and hard work to earn a degree online.
Those who blanketly discredit this form of study must be caught up in the dark ages prior to todays technology. May I suggest that before you ignorantly spout off like this that you enroll in one of these programs, start to finish, and then come back and talk about it. Too often people don’t realize when they are sounding ignorant. Most universities today offer some form of online programs, those that do and those that do not have onsight availability.
Check your facts, walk the walk, and then come back and make intelligent statements and observations.
I had to get that out.
APS Teacher
February 12th, 2010
10:58 am
New APS- you’ve got it backwards. Black teachers are promoted to administrative positions regardless of how incompetent they might be. (Notice how there are virtually no white admins in APS?)At my school, the administration socializes outside school with black teachers, allows them to skip out on meetings, does nothing when they fail to turn in lesson plans, etc. White teachers are harassed constantly and penalized for the smallest transgression. Race IS a huge factor in APS. But you’ve got it backwards- being black is an asset. Being white means you’re going nowhere fast.
Echo
February 12th, 2010
10:59 am
accommodation
30+yearsteacher
February 12th, 2010
11:56 am
In the language of “Northview Teacher” we see “all the sudden” and other substandard English usage, as well as an attitude of wanting racial affirmative action or special license. Perhaps that person (”teacher”) is revealing why some of the students cannot pass the tests on their own. I have observed teachers who cry out “racism” when we supervisors tried to remediate their language usage from “it be’s” to “it is,” and refused to improve their own skills to be able to provide a good experience for students. Kids caught in classrooms with poorly educated teachers will merely perpetuate the ignorance. It is happening all over as our system is forced by quotas and racial mandates to hire and keep substandard and unqualified people as teachers. In addition, the nepotism among the inept is worse than in more educated schools because the inept want to surround themselves with other inept personnel who will not complain!
This is a case of the emperor’s new clothes! The smart, ethical folks must get in there and do serious house-cleaning and get rid of the incompetent, the ones who cannot smile at or motivate a child, and the ones who are hanging on by their “connections”!! Believe me, this situation exists rampantly!! It is not one rotten apple, but rather whole piles of them!
Happily retired!
February 12th, 2010
12:54 pm
The “crisis” exists because we put unreasonable emphasis on a small number of standardized tests.
Change our Focus
February 12th, 2010
4:59 pm
States around our nation adopt achievement standards and tests precisely so that teachers will focus more on the knowledge and skills that the tests measure. Whether this is a problem depends partly on how effective the tests are, how well the tests are administered and monitored in the administration process, and partly on how well the students were being taught before.
Not all standardized tests are unsatisfactory. Some, such as those requiring long and short answers, performance tasks and writing samples provide more authentic assessments than do those with multiple-choice answers. Tests that measure complex concepts and extended reasoning encourage stimulating instruction. Many states require performance based tests which are more costly to administer and more time intensive in scoring. One of the problems with the CRCT is that it is multiple-choice and does not provide an accurate measure of the students’ knowledge and skills as would be demonstrated in performance tasks.
How many students have we all observed simply bubble in an answer, complete the test quickly and quietly lie their head down? How many times have we observed these same students getting lucky and receiving a high score? On the other hand, how many students have we observed getting their bubbles confused and not scoring well on the test despite their knowledge of the subject matter? Sadly, it appears that our state of Georgia also has administrative problems with the bubble in, erase the bubble, replace the bubble. This would not be easily accomplished with performance based assessments.
The way in which the results are reported and used also makes a critical difference. Georgia places emphasis on the Pass/Fail of the state test. Many states report learning gains in addition to the test scores for each student annually. Graphs of the gains are reviewed in the beginning of the school year and the data is disaggregated. Parents are given copies of the graphs and the explanation of the tests are part of the information to the parents. Schools and teachers are accountable for student gains. This allows all students to be given the opportunity to progress versus “pass or fail” a test. If Georgia had a system to report learning gains, there would be greater opportunities for teachers to “teach” versus “teach a test.” Test irregularities are also more easily detected.
High-stakes testing presumes that you can bring the bottom up, but it’s ludicrous if you don’t provide resources and support. Our schools need lower class sizes and increased instructional time, especially for high needs students. But quality costs money. We all know about the state of affairs with our educational budgets around our state…..
Nevertheless, as research indicates, high stakes testing has narrowed the achievement gap. The key in effective testing is the type of test, how the test is administered, and the resources that are in place to teach all students effectively. In addition, teachers should be given the freedom to teach students based on their needs versus teaching students to memorize the specific standards for a test.
Accountability for educational outcomes should be a shared responsibility of states, school districts, public officials, educators, parents, and students.
Now What?
February 12th, 2010
7:48 pm
30+years, you have a point. There is absolutely no excuse for people who have not yet mastered the English language to be teaching it. I’ve come across many administrators whose speaking skills were at about a 3rd grade level as well. However, they do not represent the majority. The truth is that most teachers are VERY well educated. The issue here is cheating. And, it is done by both the competent and incompetent- teachers AND administrators. So, while you are blaming teacher incompetence, don’t forget about the administrators. Somebody hired these “incompetent” teachers, right? And, somebody is allowing them to keep their jobs. It starts at the TOP!
another aps teacher
February 12th, 2010
9:13 pm
@majii-testing security in APS follows the same procedures. Tests are due back in the office no later than 15-20 minutes after testing for the day is over. Teachers don’t have time to change scores. Teachers don’t have opportunities to change scores. And in middle school, teachers test their homeroom classes all week so teachers are administering tests in subjects that the teachers do not teach. In those severe middle schools you can bet it is not the classroom teacher who is changing answers.
As I’ve said before and in other places, many of our students come to us unable to read, write, spell, add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Some of those had very high GCRCT scores, some had never passed a test in their entire school careers, and some only pass the crucial tests during the crucial years. You can connect the dots.
Everyone should be clear that teaching faculties do not qualify for a bonus because the school makes AYP. the teaching faculty qualifies for a bonus if the school makes APS targets, which are differentiated and adjust upward each year. A school with a low income, minority population will have lower targets than a school near Chastain Park, or in Buckhead, or Midtown. That is an attempt to even out the score for everyone, but it doesn’t work well when school A has 55% of students passing the test (or ‘passing’ the test) and meets their targets and school B has 92% of their population pass the test, but their target was 98% and so school B is not as good as school A because school B did not make targets.
It is true, we do try every freaking reform model that comes down the pike. We make graphs and charts of the results of bi-weekly tests and post them for all to see. We are supposed to make certain that learning is fun and exciting. We are supposed to give the students hands-on learning experiences! When is the last time you did hands-on Language Arts? We have to jump through hoops to reflect a child’s failing grade. Several years ago we were told that we could not give students zeros for not doing their homework. The year after that APS eliminated the D. Students can get A’s, B’s, C’s, or F’s. Did I tell you how hard it is to give an F?
We have had five principals in six years at my school. We have had eight assistant principals. Without strong and consistent leadership how can we serve our extremely needy population? These are just some of the problems we face, and we are not alone. There is no way I could ever condone cheating on any test. The students suffer when the truth isn’t known. Ugly situations cannot be changed when ugly truths are glossed over, hidden or changed so the truth can’t be known.
APS Teacher/Middle School
February 13th, 2010
12:37 am
Agree with “Another APS Teacher” Testing is monitored heavily from the time the teachers receive the testing material, during testing, and upon returning the materials. Outsiders are highly visible throughout the building. My school was not cited, but I am certain all APS schools handle testing the same way.
APS employee too
February 13th, 2010
9:01 am
Many APS teachers are very well educated. Some of us have 3+ degrees that we earned the old fashioned way. The problem with APS is an incompetent administration that is hell bent on blaming the classroom teacher for everything wrong in the school. They need to stop hiring their frat sisters & brothers from around the country. Next stop taking private funds to run a public school system. If only the Board would rid itself of all that mess and let teachers teach their classes. There is a culture of distrust now in the schools. Two incompetent women from some hick place in NC and AL (no disrespect to those states) are trying to pit students against teachers. You’d better pass those students or we will get them to take you to OIR. Stop the nonsense APS. It is not the teachers. High School teachers inherited the mess you created in the elementary and middle schools. When did APS get so bad? When? Let us teach our students. If we are not smiling it is because you want robots who do the same thing at the same time in each classroom. Bill Gates we are not machines and our children are not guinea pigs. We are human; I think therefore I am. One size does not fit all. Most of us came into this profession because we wanted to help our kids. They are not learning anymore. These administrators do not care about our students. If they did, they would boot all that private influence out the door and make a real partnership. That partnership should be between the teachers, parents( by force if necessary), the community, administrators, and the taxpayers. We the people need to take back our schools from the testmongers and mindless computer screen game playing money grabbers. If not, the next generation will be undereducated and lost.
I asked my high school students if they had heard of “Things Fall Apart”, Silas Marner, “The Secret Garden”, “Up From Slavery,” “Oliver Twist”…the answer was no. They don’t read anymore because curriculums across the state and nation don’t require them too. So when I go home I cry. Don’t blame us teachers… We are all failing our children and a culture of distrust will not improve the quality of our public education. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that blaming teachers is convenient for everyone. Shut up and walk a mile in my shoes. Come teach my class for just 2 weeks. Then and only then administrators from out of town can you say anything to me. Do not come in with your stupid laptops and 5 other cronies every other day to observe. Get down into the trenches. You know you left the classroom because you couldn’t take the heat.
J. Gary
February 13th, 2010
10:36 am
As a former APS student myself, did not like attending APS schools myself. The teachers were ok in some of the classes that i took and other teachers really didn,t give a damn. They were there for the pay check. As a loving parent to my daughter I am glad that she is attending Fulton County Schools WHERE STUDENTS COMES FIRST. I will continue to work hard to keep my child in fulton county schools. It’s not right to cheat for the children cause at the end of the day the children are the ones who suffer in the long run.
sigh
February 13th, 2010
5:30 pm
The confidential tip line from the APS website:
I’m not sure how folks keep saying they are scared to be whistle blowers.
http://aps.schoolwires.net/186110121511421663/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=55253&1861Nav=|&NodeID=67
Another aps Teacher, you’re exactly right, and thanks for pointing out the testing protocol. Classroom teachers could not possibly erase and correct tests in the time they have access to the materials (not to mention the different tests within a class).
I’ve been at several schools in APS during testing and have never seen any inappropriate testing environments or handling of testing materials, but I have seen questionable gains in scores by low-performing students. On the other hand, I have participated in “testing strategy” sessions in which students are taught how to choose the best answer through process of elimination, educated guessing, and one strategy includes marking a “guess” and marking the question with a star and coming back to re-think the answer. I wonder if any of that had an impact on the erasure numbers? Can erasures really indicate cheating so clearly?
There’s no question that it’s suspicious, but are the administrators at fault, like the Atherton folks, or someone higher up in the APS food chain? Knowing some of the administrators that are at flagged schools I’d be shocked if they were involved in cheating; however, some other administrators wouldn’t surprise me at all. Do I think Beverly Hall is involved and condones cheating? No. I think folks are scrambling to meet her standards and targets, and they are scrambling to show gains (even if they have not earned them) so that they don’t get on a PDP or lose funding for their schools.
We have a lot of exceptional administrators, to be sure, but there are some genuinely awful ones also. Someone on one of these blogs mentioned open.georgia.gov a site where you can look up any public school (or government) employee to find out how much money they earn. The second-highest paid APS employee was “Assistant Principal, Gerald Nelson” who earned $301,444 in 2009. What?? I looked him up, and learned that he was a principal that APS tried to get rid of, but he sued and was eventually re-instated as an administrator. I couldn’t find out where he is now, but I was wondering if that was his payoff for getting out of APS? I’ve been at schools that the principal has killed the school atmosphere, and it is disheartening how hard it is to get rid of bad seeds–plus, it’s very expensive.
I’m not naive, I’m sure cheating does happen, in APS and just about everywhere to some degree, but the sad result is that the already-maligned, stressed out, scrutinized, and belittled teachers of our state are bearing the brunt of all of these investigations. Is the outcome of the CRCT investigation going to be removal of bad teachers? bad administrators? bad policies? Probably not. But you can bet there will be more hoops for the good teachers to jump through and prove that they are people of integrity who care about children.
APS Teacher/Middle School
February 13th, 2010
6:36 pm
To J.GARY. You are promoting Fulton County Schools and lowering APS. APS students are as good as the parents! My three kids attend Fulton County Schools because I live there. They spent some time in Atlanta schools. They were successful in APS and now Fulton County because of my parenting style. You either complete your assignments or you don’t hang out…If they receive a grade lower than B, I attack my kids…not the teacher. In APS, the parents are absent until they see the final grade. And then they want to call downtown…After that downtown puts pressure on the teacher…And then the teacher must pass. The kid is smiling the entire time and the parents are enabling them. In terms of Fulton County Schools…North Futlon Schools get all the accolades…South Fulton Schools are just like APS. STRUGGLING. If the schools in APS cheated, they were trying to compensate for the lack of parenting in the the APS inner city school! PARENTS…It’s your job to follow, motivate, and insure that your kids are learning from start to finish!
Equitable Accountability
February 13th, 2010
6:58 pm
@sad APS dad: Terry Davis is right. I work at an APS middle school and I know for a fact that the two “academically acceptable” middle schools in APS (as you put it) do not accept students who they feel will not be assets to their school or perform well on standardized tests. Subsequently, these students are forced to attend the other middle schools (which, I guess, are sub-par in your eyes). These students have academic, social, and emotional deficits, all of which impact student achievement. ALSO, these two schools have a tremendous amount of parental support and their students have high work ethics. Parents, on average, of the students I serve rarely attend PTA meetings or parent conferences–unless they are retrieving a confiscated electronic device–do not supply their children with essential school supplies, feed them breakfast, or make sure they are studying or doing homework at home. Furthermore, the middle schools (outside of your top two) constantly deal with high transient rates. This affects student achievement as well. Sometimes I feel as if my school’s main entrance is a revolving door. Kids are constantly enrolling and withdrawing, and we are also forced to accept students with extensive discipline records. And you wonder why these schools are not performing on the same level as the two “top” middle schools? Students of low SES have many problems that teachers alone can not handle. With these students, it truly “takes a village.”
Equitable Accountability
February 13th, 2010
7:12 pm
@Private School Parent: You’re kidding right??? There is no way you can equate a teacher’s performance, especially an APS teacher’s performance, to that of someone working in the private sector. There are so many variables beyond a teacher’s control that affect student achievement. Therefore, teachers absolutely cannot be solely held accountable for student outcomes. As you probably know, most APS students live in high poverty areas. Unfortunately, with high poverty comes social and emotional problems, lack of resources, and low parental support (this is a general statement. There are always exceptions). However, regardless of students’ deficits, teachers are pressured to create significant gains on standardized tests. Students may come to school hungry, not have any school supplies, do no homework at home, but the teacher is solely responsible for student performance. People who work in the private sector are pretty much in control of their job performance. Teachers are not. We don’t go home with students to ensure that learning continues at home. Yet we are held responsible for factors beyond our control. There’s NO comparison between the pressure teachers undergo regarding student achievement and that felt by those in the private sector. Work in a high-poverty school for at least one full school year, and I promise your view will change.
APS Teacher/Middle School
February 13th, 2010
7:40 pm
Agree with Equitable Accountability…back to parents. Some parents believe that dropping their kids off at school is enough. It is not enough.
Equitable Accountability
February 13th, 2010
7:42 pm
@Private School Parent: You’re kidding right??? APS teachers are held accountable for factors beyond their control that persons working in the private sector would never have to deal with. As you probably know, most APS students live in high poverty and many deal with a host of issues (e.g., emotional problems, lack of resources, poor socialization, lack of parental involvement regarding academics, low self-esteem, just to name a few). NOTE: these are generalizations; there are always exceptions. Despite the problems that students’ face and the lack of involvement and commitment from the parents, teachers are solely held responsible for student achievement regardless of the above-mentioned problems that are beyond a teacher’s control. It is my understanding that the job performance of persons working in the private sector is, for the most part, controlled by the workers themselves. The output is based on the input. This law or formula doesn’t apply to public education, especially in low SES schools. Teachers do follow students home to guarantee the continuation of learning outside of school. That is the parent’s responsibility, yet many parents are falling short in this area. There is NO way that the pressure faced by a teacher can be compared to that which is experienced in the private workplace. Go work in a high-poverty school for a least one year and your viewpoint will definitely change.
Equitable Accountability
February 13th, 2010
8:07 pm
@Private School Parent: You’re kidding right??? You can’t be serious. APS teachers are held accountable for factors beyond their control that persons working in the private sector would never have to deal with. As you probably know, most APS students live in high poverty and many deal with a host of issues (e.g., emotional problems, lack of resources, poor socialization, lack of parental involvement regarding academics, low self-esteem, just to name a few). NOTE: these are generalizations; there are always exceptions. Despite the problems that students’ face and the lack of involvement and commitment from the parents, teachers are solely held responsible for student achievement regardless of the above-mentioned problems that are beyond a teacher’s control. It is my understanding that the job performance of persons working in the private sector is, for the most part, controlled by the workers themselves. The output is based on the input. This law or formula doesn’t apply to public education, especially in low SES schools. Teachers do follow students home to guarantee the continuation of learning outside of school. That is the parent’s responsibility, yet many parents are falling short in this area. There is NO way that the pressure faced by a teacher can be compared to that which is experienced in the private workplace. Go work in a high-poverty school for a least one year and your viewpoint will definitely change.
Ex APS teacher/Maureen dont trust Beverly Hall
February 13th, 2010
9:38 pm
Maureen,
It finally feels good to be vindicated 5 years after I reported cheating happening at APS.
Trust me ..this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Cheating is rampant also at the high school level at APS for the GHSGT.
I reported cheating and irregular testing administration to the GAPSC and to Beverly Hall’s Office of Internal Resolution at APS. OIR at APS is more like a gestapo to squish all APS scandals and launch a barrage of retaliatory actions against any APS employee that reports cheating or unethical behaviour.
After I reported mass scale cheating and irregular testing administration at a high school at APS, I was immediately targeted by the Principal, Assistant Principal, APS Central Office, APS HR APS OIR, APS attorneys all with the blessing of Dr. Hall.
Dr. Hall like her associates at APS are enjoying their generous salaries and looking out for their golden parachute. I see Beverly Hall working for a few more years and then retiring with a very fat pension. But until that happens she is going to be ruthless to show that APS has made stellar gains at all cost. APS has a marketing and communication dept all paid with tax payer money to spin and spin. I find it sad that legitimate and noble charities like Melinda and Bill Gates foundation do not see that their money is going down the drain.
Back to my story. After I reported to the GAPSC and APS, I was interviewed by APS OIR on tape. No action was taken against the persons I named in the complaint. I was then abruptly transferred to another school in the middle of the school year just before spring final exams. My contract was non-renewed. APS then reported bogus charges against me to the GAPSC.
I expected the GAPSC to fight for me. Big mistake. The GAPSC is a slow like molasses bureacracy..a good ole boys network. Dragged their feet. I had to hire a lawyer out of pocket to help me.APS settled out of court but never admitted any guilt.
Guess what??The high school at APS where I worked had made AYP consistently until 2004. I complained about cheating in test in 2005. That APS high school has not made APS since 2004 !!!
I complained against 2 people at the high school. A few years later the principal quietly resigned and is now at Fulton. Fulton hired him even though he has disciplinary record on his certificate by the GAPSC. The GAPSC threw out the bogus charges that APS made against me.
One of the AP I complained against dissapeared a few years later. One another person who I complained against took early retirement as soon as the GAPSC found him guilty and slapped his wrist with a “warning” on his certificate.