CRCT cheating probe: Let in the sunshine and the public
Many posters here have already questioned the objectivity of the “blue-ribbon” committee created to oversee the CRCT test sheet investigation of Atlanta Public Schools. Now, legislators are also wondering about the committee and its contention that it can shut the public out of its meetings.
In a good story Sunday, AJC reporter Heather Vogell addresses both the composition of the board, the role of the Atlanta Education Fund and open meetings requirements.
I have written a lot of editorials about the Georgia open meetings law and the frequent and dogged efforts of public boards and committees to evade it. I am not sure why this continues to be an issue when the law is clear that public business must be done in public. As the saying goes, sunshine is the best disinfectant.
In the CRCT probe, there are already concerns about candor and honesty – this is an investigation about possible widespread cheating on state school exams. If any discussion demands an open and transparent process, it’s this one. Otherwise, the findings will always be suspect.
Here is what Heather Vogell reported today in part. Read the full story here as there is a lot of good information and also an update on what happened to the second expert’s findings from the first round of suspicious APS test scores.
The two entities are supposed to ensure that the investigation into alleged cheating at more than two-thirds of Atlanta’s elementary and middle schools is fair and independent.
But Atlanta Superintendent Beverly Hall and her deputy superintendent sit on the board of the nonprofit, leading five state lawmakers to complain last week that the group is too closely tied to district administration.
The task force drew fire, too, after announcing it would meet in private. That move surprised even two school board members.
Questions about who has a vote, what constitutes “independence,” and which decisions will be made in public are swirling as the groups struggle to sort out their roles. The undertaking has already involved more than a dozen civic and business leaders beyond the school district.
Last month, Georgia officials ordered local school systems to thoroughly investigate suspicious erasures on state tests at 191 schools statewide by school year’s end. The deadline is especially daunting for Atlanta, which had 58 schools in question — by far the most of any district statewide.
The Atlanta school board said two weeks ago that the Atlanta Education Fund, a nonprofit that supports the district, would head the investigation.
Then, last week, the school board endorsed creating a “Blue Ribbon Commission,” a task force that would select a contractor — or contractors — to do the investigation and recommend how to tighten test security. The nonprofit education fund will provide staff and money to support the work.
On Monday, the school board plans to vote on a formal resolution setting out its relationship with the task force.
The panel, however, already held its first meeting in private Wednesday and stepped into its first controversy. Chairman Gary Price, market managing partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers, said the group would provide regular updates, but meetings would not be public.
“That is more than problematic,” Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta), said later that day. “They are doing public business.”
Transparency is crucial to gaining the public’s confidence, said Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta). “We don’t want the public to leave this process wondering who covered what up? Or if anything was covered up,” she said. “And there’s always this doubt when the public isn’t involved.”
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41 comments Add your comment
Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA
March 7th, 2010
10:28 am
I sure can’t remember when I agreed with Fort, on anything.
Attentive Parent
March 7th, 2010
10:36 am
If you have a past history as a supporter or funder of the school system, won’t you have egg on your face so to speak if it turns out gains were an illusion and you were wrong in your support?
Independent=No interest in outcome either way
It does not matter if an individual plans to be independent in fact. It matters that there be the appearance of independence. That would seem to call for knowledgeable individuals with no previous relationship to APS or its personnel and no stake in whatever the outcome is of the investigation.
RIGHT ON, BROTHER....
March 7th, 2010
10:36 am
cheat??
RIGHT ON, BROTHER....
March 7th, 2010
11:10 am
TOO BAD WE DON’T HAVE A TOPIC LIKE YESTERDAY TO MAKE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
Use the law
March 7th, 2010
11:25 am
Maureen said it, sunshine is the best disinfectant. It’s time to use Open Records law and start gathering emails to and from all officials involved to find out what did they know, and when did they know it.
I certainly hope the AJC attorneys will be filing lawsuits to compel the “blue ribbon” panel to be as open and transparent as the law intends.
Ethics needed
March 7th, 2010
11:52 am
How can APS board chairwoman LaChandra Butler Burks even claim to be objective when she has categorically stated to the AJC she sees no way that Beverly Hall could be involved in wrongdoing?
If you have already publicly indicated that you see no possible way the person you are charged with investigating could have any culpability, doesn’t ethics require that you step down from the panel so that not even the appearance of a conflict of interest exists?
Sonny Perdue, please make this your legacy moment. Every aspect of the community, educators and non educators alike, will give you credit if you become known as the Governor who ended cheating.
Even if you aren’t a fan of Perdue, flood his office with emails and calls and let him know that despite that, this is one area that all citizens will respect him for.
Jess
March 7th, 2010
1:18 pm
This is a white wash pure and simple.
Ethics needed
March 7th, 2010
1:39 pm
Will someone from the AJC please ask APS school board chair LaChandra Butler Burks why she hasn’t recused herself from this committee, since she has stated in the AJC that she sees no possible way the person she is charged with investigating can possibly be guilty?
Doesn’t that indicate a bias that professional ethics would require a person to step down from such a committee, in order to ensure the integrity of the investigation?
RobertNAtl
March 7th, 2010
1:57 pm
If the APS and the state are serious about investigating this, they would have appointed a retired prosecutor to lead the committee and given him full subpoena power over all APS employees (at penalty of losing their jobs). Tom Morgan from DeKalb County would have been a good candidate — he has no vested interest in APS or protecting any of their employees or administrators. And he has an interest in education.
Ethics needed
March 7th, 2010
2:42 pm
Tom Morgan, what a great idea. Sonny are you listening?
Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA
March 7th, 2010
3:10 pm
Tom Morgan?? Aww, c’mon, now, isn’t there a football coach out there with time on his hands?
catlady
March 7th, 2010
3:44 pm
High time for the DA to convene a grand jury!
Look at it. One of the first two probes “finds” that the way APS teaches could have produced these large gains. BESIDES that he supposedly visited 8 SCHOOLS IN ONE DAY (something Santa Claus would have been hard-pressed to do), he has apparently concluded from what the schools WROTE that the kids COULD have accomplished the gains. NOT that they DID, mind you! FAIL
Then, the other guy hasn’t finished his report, in part, because he can’t get the data? What other reasons? And WHY CAN”T he get the data? FAIL
Then, the superintendent names a “blue ribbon committee” to look at the erasure analysis. Only thing is, it is made up largely of her cronies. And, do any of them have ANY expertise in data analysis, statistics, or educational policy and programs? FAIL
Oh, yeah, and the “blue ribbon committee” begins meeting, in private, before they are actually commissioned by the school board to exist. FAIL
I’d say this dog don’t hunt. Time to put it out of its misery.
Time for the DA
March 7th, 2010
4:17 pm
Where is DA Paul Howard? Where is someone with the courage to offer someone immunity from prosecution in exchange for telling us who exactly knew what, and when exactly did they know it?
jdmcallister
March 7th, 2010
5:12 pm
Why have a probe? The District Attorney in each county should be investigating and filing criminal charges against teachers and administrators.
Dr. John Trotter
March 7th, 2010
6:01 pm
The more things change in Atlanta, the more they remain the same. I remember a few years ago when Kathy Augustine was trying to keep me from going into the “private” board meeting! Yes, the school board was meeting in its plush meeting suite on the third floor of the Taj Mahal. You can imagine that with my personality and my knowledge of the Open Meetings Law that a minor conflagration was about to erupt. LOL. The police were hastened. I informed them that I was intending to enter into the “private” meeting of the school board. Calmer heads prevailed. In fact, it was Dr. Norman Thomas (who, by the way, should have been Atlanta’s superintendent) who informed the police officers and Kathy Augustine that I (and my colleagues with MACE) had a right to enter into the room. So, we were finally “allowed” to saunter into the room (no doubt to the chagrin of Hall and the board members) with our picket signs. We stood quietly along the walls, holding our rather taunting signs and blocking no one’s vision. (I Believe that Ed Johnson also was in the room. I don’t want to leave out Ed. He too is part of the “Loyal Opposition.”) Let’s face it, folks. Atlanta is indeed a gansta school system. This so-called “Blue Ribbon” committee is a joke. It has shown its true colors by already violating the Open Meetings Law. This “Yellow Ribbon” committee was appointed by the school board, is doing work for the board as its agency, and it falls foursquare within the strictures of the Open Meetings Law. When all else fails, just read the law. It is very simple. You don’t have to be a Philadelphia Lawyer to be able to discern this law which is written in the simplest of terms. (c) MACE, March 7, 2007
ScienceTeacher671
March 7th, 2010
6:42 pm
Is there a school system in this state that actually follows the letter and the spirit of the Open Meetings Law? I’ve yet to see one.
neutral
March 7th, 2010
6:48 pm
The questions are as follows:
Who is gonna call off the AJC before this gets to the core?
Who is the first insider to get immunity?
Who will be the principals to get thrown under the bus by APS?
Will Augustine take the sword for Hall?
Tif
March 7th, 2010
8:13 pm
This commission needs to be clearly fair and beholden to no one in the APS in order for its results to be seen as credible by anyone. This spring the state is going ot administer the CRCT with tight security over the tests in the questioned schools. If scores fall significantly it will be a strong indicator that cheating occured.
Hall has whitewashed a cheating scandal already. She must not be allowed to whitewash another one.
This whitewash is one reason that we need a law to crimilizeadministrators cheating on tests so that these investigations are taken out of the hands of the School Superintendent and the board.
Enlightened
March 7th, 2010
8:23 pm
Let me get this right; the cat is to investigate AND report back whether he ate the mouse. Right?
PappyHappy
March 7th, 2010
8:54 pm
Leaders of Georgia education have proven they cannot be trusted to adhere to basic values. They have brought shame to the education profession; cheated our children out of a basic education; cheated (could be defined as ’stolen’) tax payer’s money under false pretenses; and, too many cannot see the forest for the trees — even to this day!! The more one looks, the more corrupt the system seems to be — not only in the APS, but county systems throughout the state.
How many BOEs feather their own nests through giving contracts to family members to build schools that may or may not be needed?
Provide compensation to superintendents without specific and measurable standards?
How many superintendents — as an example — are paid more than the governor, and during the period of their stewardship, what were the SAT, ACT and CRCT scores — by year? What was the ‘four year high school grad rates? What was the college retention rates by gender — beyond the first year? How many high school grads who went on to college, possessed a 3.0 or higher GPA in high school who dropped out of college for academic reasons after the first year; the second year; or required remedial courses?
There needs to be some serious house cleaning in Georgia education, and it needs to start at the top. While I initially thought Gov Perdue was wrong in his recommendation for the Governor to appoint the State School Superintendent, the more we see emerging problems, and issues that were not uncovered or addressed at state level, the more I think the governor had a point. It is becoming increasingly clear that an experienced, tough minded leader is needed in this position with business managerial skills to identify and measure true success. Way too many superintendents have proven they are simply not capable.
If this state wants to improve the jobless situation, we are going to have to have a decently educated population to offer. Thus far, way too many of our educators have FAILED, and even CHEATED! Not a very good example to establish for the next generation is it??
ScienceTeacher671
March 7th, 2010
9:11 pm
@PappyHappy – I see your point, but it doesn’t look as if having appointed (rather than elected) superintendents has done much good at the county level — do you really think it would help if done at the statewide level?
time
March 7th, 2010
9:27 pm
It’s time for the AJC, and any other concerned watchdog to start taking advantage of Open Records law and start seeking access to emails between principals and central office, and emails between the board and central office and find out what did who know, and when did who know it.
John Sherman we need you
March 7th, 2010
10:47 pm
John Sherman of the Fulton County Taxpayers’ Association, please considering pooling your group’s resources and taking to the airwaves to make sure this investigation doesn’t get whitewashed!
John Sherman we need you
March 7th, 2010
10:50 pm
John Sherman, would you consider filing some of the Open Records requests that would tell us what did they know and when did they know it?
Your organization would definitely have the clout to do it, and the resources to combat any stall tactics in getting the information. Please consider doing a service for the state of Georgia by doing this.
Parks teacher/// tired of APS telling all
March 7th, 2010
10:52 pm
Fot the life of me; i dont understand why Dr. Hall is risking her reputition to protect these people, its completeley incomprehensable. Dr. Hall fire all principals whit 50% or above erasers and call it the day. You know Parks cheated, you know Turner and Kennedy did, You know deerwood did and many others. Everyone in the system knew parks was cheating and you overlooked it because they made you look good. If a school has over 50% erasers then then you know the principal was sleeping at the wheel. Cheating take place everywhere in Atlanta Public Schools, every school, every decision and every moment. Parks has cheated for years and you kept a blind eye to it. I love you Dr. Hall but you are sleeping at the wheel. “Get on the bus and drive it” before someone “move your cheese”. “Coach” your folks into telling the truth. “Flip the Script”.
BuckheadMom3Thugs
March 7th, 2010
11:03 pm
Hey Parks: Beverly Hall ain’t sleeping at no wheel; she be drivin’ dat CheatinMobile!
Attentive Parent
March 8th, 2010
6:06 am
There is a large network of charitable fundraising geared to help ease this country’s human capital challenge by improving America’s public schools. APS is one of the poster children for this fundraising.
http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/content.asp?pl=445&sl=485&contentid=695 was less than 6 months ago here in Atlanta and it is a who’s who of the nationally significant foundations as well as 90 more being encouraged to donate.
There are thus enormous pressures for this not to be true and to go away quietly.
KA
March 8th, 2010
6:39 am
I can well imagine that Parks must have been cheating, if the writing style of “Parks teacher/// tired of APS telling all ” is any indication of how the children at that school are being taught. The word is erasures, not erasers. Verb, not noun.
The committee – which was not appointed by the school board, or by Dr. Hall, but by the Atlanta Education Foundation – is top heavy with corporate boosters. And with the school board president as a member, it hardly is independent. I am deeply disappointed and expect that little will come from this committee, unless they decide to sacrifice the careers of one or two principals to protect Dr. Hall.
One thing I’d like to know, after reviewing the salaries in APS: why does Dr. Hall need Dr. Augustine to attend every meeting? Dr. Augustine is a highly-paid notetaker, and her salary would fund at least 3 teacher positions.
Shar
March 8th, 2010
8:16 am
As long as Beverly Hall and Kathy Augustine can pick who investigates this situation, no taxpayer money should support it and no reputable agency or media should accept its findings.
Atlanta property owners have been hit with a 42% increase in the millage rate to fund APS. We have a right to factual, objective information as to what is being done with our money.
Please write to the Governor’s office, your BoE member and your City Council representative. Hall’s self-serving chicanery has already rotted the schools; she cannot be permitted to bully her way through this accounting.
Reality Check
March 8th, 2010
8:46 am
I’d trust Beverly Hall about as far as I could throw her……she has a whole lot to lose and nothing to gain by this investigation and will do anything to direct criticism away from herself. APS, with all it’s other problems, does not need this distraction……fire BH now and get it over with and take her out of the controversy.
Blue Ribbon
March 8th, 2010
9:12 am
Yep, this committee ought to be “blue.” It ought to be singing the blues because of all of the systematic cheating which takes place in Atlanta. But, I think it ought to be named the “Yellow Ribbon” committee because the committee is “yellow” — too afraid to meet in the public…just keeps breaking the law like the gangsta school system itself. Yeah, I can see that Beverly Hall put this committee together. Independent? Let’s go eat at the Busy Bee today!
The Ghosts of Those You Hurt...
March 8th, 2010
9:16 am
Hey Beverly Hall: Your snake oil show no longer works. You’ve hurt too many people…especially the children. You have worn out your welcome. Let Thelma show you and Kathy to the door.
nonprofit?
March 8th, 2010
9:55 am
What is the name of Hall’s nonprofit? Does she take a salary from the nonprofit? Does the nonprofit board take salaries? Who else is on the board of the nonprofit? Is it classified a nonprofit by the IRS? Maybe the IRS would like to know more about Hall’s dealings?
Attentive Parent
March 8th, 2010
10:35 am
Since APS and Education Trust have used the NAEP scores as a defense to the significance of the erasure analysis, here’s another explanation from a national publication on why NAEP scores cannot be used for such comparisons.
http://www.educationnews.org/ed_reports/68672.html
As I wrote on Friday’s Cox post, NAEP is not a broadly administered test, the specific schools used are confidential, and the selected schools pick the students to be tested.
Somebody though is not passing these facts onto enough journalists. There’s a Washington Post story up today talking about Everyday Math and using DC’s NAEP scores to justify. Maybe everybody should read the above article before anyone mentions NAEP again.
sad APS Dad
March 8th, 2010
12:14 pm
Why can’t Atlanta Public Schools do something like this?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/happynews/ct-met-urban-prep-college-20100305,0,3299917.story
Why? ZERO leadership + ZERO innovation + ZERO accountability = ZERO expectations for its students.
Time for Hall to go!!
Reality Check
March 8th, 2010
12:29 pm
Parks teacher/// tired of APS telling all
March 7th, 2010
10:52 pm
WOW, if you’re an APS teacher, I’d be taking my child out of your classroom….ASAP…..
Michelle
March 8th, 2010
1:24 pm
Can we agree on the following?
1. An independent committee of well respected inviduals from the City and State must be appointed to investigate suspicions of cheating on the CRCT.
2. The oversight panel needs must be independent from the APS.
3. The proceedings, recommendations and decisons of the panel must to be open to the public
4. The existing APS leadership should neither pick the panel nor have influence over it
Open Records Request
March 8th, 2010
8:10 pm
Let’s hope somebody with the time, and the resources to combat any possible obfuscation, will start making Open Records requests of the board and high level central administration to find out what did they know, and when did they know it?
Duh????
March 12th, 2010
9:56 am
I can assure you that “Parks Teacher///Tired of APS telling all” is NOT a Parks teacher!!!!
Teachas2ndCareer
March 14th, 2010
11:12 pm
Reading these articles, people have fail to mention that ALL parties are responsible for the education of a child. What do we do when parents don’t respond to teachers? What do we do when reforms are crammed in schools without vote or input from the teachers that are implementing these so called full proof reforms? You remain honest, push and fight for change in your own way, and ask a million questions. Unfortunately, people are narrow minded and think that there way is the answer. As we move forward in finding out the truth, keep in mind that all people need to be represented on the boards…the ones who believe, the ones who are skeptical, and all others in between. Furthermore, when the erasures are viewed let’s make sure that all percentages are reported. I would like to know what percentage of answers were changed from wrong to wrong and right to wrong. Our kids are listening to us and the reports on television and radio. I had a 5th grade student to even ask, “So, does that mean we can’t erase.” I told them no. When you go back and check your answers, erase if you feel you need to especially if you found out from the text or your memory the correct answer. I tell my own children to check and I am not going to stop telling all children to check. We are making our kids scared to erase. If you see what I see during benchmark tests, our kids erase more while taking the test then afterwards. Bottom line, they do erase and they should not be afraid to do so.
APS Parent
April 8th, 2010
7:34 pm
My child attends an APS Elementary school and I have seen the blatant cheating and loopholes that these administrators and teachers will use to circumvent the rules. Luckily, my daughter is only in the first grade, but after this year I will be withdrawing her from this school district. I’ve made complaints about the day-to-day issues at the the school and I’ve been pushed off from one person to the next with my concerns so I was not shocked to learn about the scale of cheating within the district.
This so-called committee can’t be trusted as most of these individuals work with APS on some level. The REAL truth will never be found out because they don’t want it to be known. Of course they’ll make a few examples out of the “trouble makers” and everything else will be swept under the rug.