CRCT cheating scandal: No reason to stop testing
The governor’s office today reported the results of an impressive and eye-opening investigation into cheating on the state’s Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, or CRCT. In a nutshell: Shocking levels of cheating were discovered at 74 (or 4 percent) of the state’s elementary and middle schools; the vast majority of those 74 schools are in the Atlanta city and Dougherty County systems. (You can read more about the investigation, methodology and results here and here, and you can search the data here.)
We will see fallout from this investigation for weeks and months to come. But let’s go ahead and clear up one thing: The results, devastating as they are, provide no excuse for ending testing and accountability measures.
The ability to identify cheating when it takes place is a crucial element of any testing system; if anything, the state should have been doing this kind of work before now. But better late than never.
The rationalization that teachers and principals are bound to resort to cheating when their jobs and potentially their pay are linked to test results is already cropping up (see the reader comments section on my colleague Maureen Downey’s blog). That’s sick — and insulting to the thousands of teachers who play by the rules.
Even more insidious, however, is the implication that, because cheating occurs, we should de-emphasize testing.
In no other area of life would we accept such logic:
Corporate executives are under much pressure to make profits, so let’s eliminate balance sheets.
Political campaigns are hard-fought and have high stakes, so let’s eliminate voting.
There is no other area of American life where cheating is regarded as an argument against measuring success in the first place. In all other fields, we regard cheating as something to be guarded against vigilantly — and punished when it’s discovered.
It’s particularly pernicious to cheat in education, or make excuses for educators who cheat, because of the consequences and lessons for young people. What is the message to students who see their teachers and principals breaking the rules to avoid punishment? This is one kind of character education that doesn’t cost a dime, or take a single second of instruction time away from other subjects.
If schools need some ideas about how to guard against teachers and principals cheating because of the incentives they face, the rest of the world has plenty of experience to share.
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21 comments Add your comment
@@
February 10th, 2010
4:48 pm
Kinda makes one wonder how they achieved their degrees, don’t it? Perhaps they cheated?
Choosing personal job security over a child’s future job security? What kinda people would stoop this low?
Selfish, selfish people.
E. Morris
February 10th, 2010
4:57 pm
Schools aren’t corporations and students aren’t products. There is no best practice to apply to education. Children are not homogenous resources to be turned into finished goods using the same established method over and over.
As long as testing remains the primary measure of educational success and determiner of funding for individual schools, you will have this kind of cheating. Keep testing in its proper place – as one gauge for specific types of learning.
The problem here is that most of the people making decisions about education have very little personal experience with it on the opposite side of the podium. They make decisions about education as if it were a business and that, no matter how much you attempt they are similar, is the wrong approach.
Adolph's Quick-cuts
February 10th, 2010
5:08 pm
So what.
no mas
February 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
The issue isn’t about whether to stop testing, it is whether the CRCT (Georgia’s own test) has any point to it, when the nationally-normed ITBS is also given. Why put the poor kids through two tests, especially when one of them serves only to test the curriculum that was written by the people who made up the test and the number of correct answers that constitutes passing can be as low as 40%?
colin richards
February 10th, 2010
6:29 pm
Hey Kyle,Put your money where your mouth is and take the CRCT and see if you pass. My child is taking FIVE sets of standardized tests this year Its a wonder how he is ever going to have time to actually learn anything. PLUS they are cutting back on education even MORE in GA this year and cutting TEACHER PAY cutting out band, orchestra etc etc.. Maybe we can make LOWEST in the country! We would be better off getting rid of these expensive totally useless tests!! So come on KYLE! Lets see if you can pass a CRCT of let’s say, a middle schooler! I bet you won’t!
Concerned Parent
February 11th, 2010
5:18 am
Kyle, I agree with you that testing has to stay, however, No Mas has a GREAT POINT. I am a parent at one of the schools in the “moderate” category and I am extremely active (PTA Board, room parent, Local School Council). I am also a former teacher from another state w/a Masters degree from a top 10 school and I CHOOSE to volunteer right now rather than work so that I can do what NCLB claims will strengthen schools and that is to be a participating parent. Keep in mind that in addition to the standardized tests, there are also tests every 3 weeks to monitor progress at many schools. These are not spelling tests, etc., but data driven tests to make sure students are on target and to re-teach if they are not.
My principal is phenomenal, but today that same Principal will be sneered at for something I know wasn’t done under his/her watch. Let’s keep in mind that teachers are not the only people who have access to the tests. The tests go thru the hands of proctors from outside of the school who are on the grounds to supervise, they go thru the hands of paraprofessionals, learning specialists, assistant principals and a host of other staff depending on who is designated to do what on testing days. Remember that also, in addition to making state standards, that APS has it’s own set of TARGETS that they brag are more strenuous than what the state needs. They put the thumb of pressure on these educators in a way that I have never seen. It’s sad but done openly. Then they have a big rally or luncheon to “celebrate” all the schools that made or exceeded their targets while everyone around the table smiles, knowing that they’ve earned a bonus directly linked to test scores.
My question is this: Why not go back 5 years and investigate? THAT’s how you will really be able to see a pattern! You need to follow teachers and principals from school to school over the past 5 years if you truly want to see trends because many schools knew they were being watched closely in 2009 but no one would have thought the technology to “see” erasures existed 5 years ago. Going back one year proves little to nothing on it’s own. If you really want to see fireworks AJC, dig deeper. By only focusing on 2009, you’re missing the meat of the story. If you spend enough time around Georgia educators you will hear stories of cheating. Of course they always tell the story of someone else cheating, but still, it’s cheating. This little limited investigation will end up ending the careers of some people who had absolutely nothing to do with cheating, while others, who have moved out of the classroom and into the higher ranks or to other districts will get away scott free.
colin richards
February 11th, 2010
10:48 am
Concerned Parent – I have been a room parent and PTA chairperson or President for the last 7 years and am also LSAC chairperson at my child’s school. I want to know when the elephant in the room will be addressed, i.e: there are too many batteries of tests being given our children. This constant testing destroys the schools in two ways; one, they sap much needed funds. Two; they hamstring the teachers, forcing them to spend more time teaching to the tests instead of teaching period. The bottom line is educations is suffering greatly. But I guess it is fine with you all that Georgia has the just about the worst educational system in the US. Keep your blinders on and keep with the status quo. I say get rid of the CRCT’s. No child left behind is a FAILED policy. That’s all I have time to say. I have to head to the school.
Logical Dude
February 11th, 2010
1:21 pm
Hi Colin,
You (and others) mention so much time being spent “teaching to the tests”. Well, gee, DON’T SPEND EXTRA MONEY “TEACHING TO THE TESTS!”
The tests are meant to be a guage of regular teaching procedures. If the regular teaching procedures need to be adjusted, then adjust the procedures. DO NOT TEACH TO THE TEST.
That’s what tutoring is for.
Logical Gal
February 11th, 2010
3:58 pm
Logical Dude – I See you totally missed the point that many are making. Let me repeat if for you. Pay attention “they hamstring the teachers, forcing them to spend more time teaching to the tests INSTEAD OF TEACHING PERIOD.”
colin richards
February 11th, 2010
8:07 pm
Thanks Logical Gal! Evidently, “Logical Dude” has trouble with his reading skills! (Sorry, could not resist!) I am still waiting for KYLE to agree to take the CRCT and see if he will pass!
Steve
February 12th, 2010
4:07 pm
This CRCT test is the biggest joke. It measures absolutely nothing and is a total waste of time. I would not allow my child to take it.
Steve
February 12th, 2010
4:09 pm
Is this test something that came out of the george w bush failed presiduncy? Isnt he the moron that made up “no child left behind”?
Rich Bodycombe
February 13th, 2010
10:49 am
The most profound comment comes from E. Morris.
“Appeal to authority” is a logical fallacy, but I’ll say that fifteen years ago I was a science and reading teacher. My students once won the metro area science bowl, though they came from an East Point Middle school, with federal lunch program participation rate of 95%. That same year I tied for first in the nation on the National Teacher’s Exam. It was my last year. I never taught again. I’d rather be a librarian, or a book publisher, or anything where I don’t have to be a behavior control technician for the state, and shortchange my charges.
Someplace where I don’t hear fatuous administrations cheer-lead kids in a round of “This is your school!” when they bear the same relationship to the school that a Keebler cookie has to the Keebler cookie factory.
Until the delivery system for education is substantially changed, and the factory floor model is abandoned, your/our dropout rate will continue to be 38% (between 9th and 12th grades). Some kids will do very well, but many will not. The college dropout rate is equally stunning.
While people are now giving each other reprimands, contests, and scandals, (in alternation with the awards and ‘honors’ and ‘recognition’ we’ll be reading about next month) this endless posing for the crowd results in a sickening pastiche of overdramatic autoeroticism that cannot quite hide the existence and consequences of our miserable betrayal of children and adults. For decades we’ve had very poor test scores even on repeatedly dumbed down tests, and a 40% dropout rate at both the high schools and colleges.
Authoritarian posturing about cheating and the seemingly endless quest for the right system is pointless, if the goal is to foster smarter adults. But the state is incapable of the operational reform schools need to be successful. It is not the testing that is important, but the experience everyone is having in the bell ringing, behavior controlling, isolative days.
The development of powerful minds has been subsumed by the processing of children through a design remnant of the 1927 factory floor. Students have contact with too many people who know them only tangentially, and these well meaning people cannot have the impact they could have under wiser circumstances. Torque producing development is displaced by cursory looks at broad curricula, frantic sloganeering and test prep.
Lots of fine educators understand this, and can write on it more skillfully than I. But looking for the next tweak to this operational structure is a loser. Longer classes, fewer classes, more depth in the reading and mathematics and performing arts would be a place to start. Field trips to universities, planetariums, and places of interest would help children imagine relevance, application, and their own futures, but insurers would never permit this now, and the state would never argue with insurers that fatten party coffers.
Curricula here are a mile wide and an inch deep and so is the classroom experience. Then everyone pretends to wonder why those kids can recognize the right answers if given a selection, but can’t synthesize thought on a blank page or concentrate work-producing effort in a novel situation. This is hypocrisy figuratively deserving of horsewhipping.
If these kids were getting a good education they’d mop the floor with any standardized tests.
I’m beginning to think the state is doing this deliberately, but probably, its just negligence. What’s that joke, “don’t assign malice to things that can be explained away with mere stupidity…”
Smaller class sizes, and a calm, unfrightened staff, children and administrators would be things to foster. These things aren’t happening, and aren’t going to happen, they’re politically impossible here. Your/our state representatives are largely stupid, cowardly and bought. Have you listened to the speeches given under the Gold Dome, or watched the law generated there? The county level is often little better. I live in Cobb County and our school board is (mostly) a bad joke, and we’re still better managed than many other counties. Poor kids. But I’m no martyr, so include me out.
When teachers don’t have to be martyrs, crusaders, or be “called” just to work there, you’ll be on a better path…you’ll go a long way to reducing ADD and hysterical personality disorder, in the adults as well as the children.
Miserable test scores? The 40% dropout rate at the secondary and post secondary arenas? These remain unaltered for decades while the ignorant sturm und drang goes on and on. Force is exerted, but no work is done. Changing the form of the school day remains unthinkable, therefore no improvement is made.
E. Morris knows what he’s talking about, but no one will hear him.
sped teacher bibb
February 13th, 2010
9:25 pm
Toooo many tests-Toooo much pressure. Yes pressure. I see students become physically ill from the pressure to pass “the test”. Many sucumb to the pressure and just shut down or they just bubble without reading in order to finish. Questions are biased and often confusing.
Reading,ELA,and math are the only scores counted,so why are we giving Science and Social Studies. How much money could we save if these were eliminated?
We need to be preparing students for life in the real world! Less testing means more time to do so. Students are passed on from grade to grade no matter what their scores are,ie., the test becomes meaningless to a large number of them.
educator99
February 14th, 2010
3:15 am
Speaking as a parent and an educator, I am furious at the fact that so many teachers and administrators in our state have been caught up in this total mistreatment to our children. However I am not surprised. When I can ask a student in my middle grade Science class to read and summarize a passage out of the textbook, some can not comprehend what it is I am asking of them and most can perform the task.
I completely agree that we need to ditch the CRCT. It is a joke and a complete waste of time and it does not truly measure what a child has learned throughout the school year. In addition, because the school facilities are so small in so many schools systems the student are “just passed on” to the next grade regardless of the fact that the child can barely read or perform basic math computations. I also agree that the Reading/ELA and Math teachers are backed up against a wall, and they’re teaching technique is literally indicated by their principals when students do not pass test. Not to mention the lack of motivation demonstrated daily by the students, because they know that they don’t have to perform in the classroom because they will be passed on the next grade anyway.
Yes, I agree something desperately has to be done. I believe that if the state stop trying to re-invent the wheel and go back to the basic would be a great place to start. Get rid of the useless CRCT, really reduce class sizes, and put reading/math coaches back in the schools and truly deal with the issue of discipline(not baby sitting) our schools will improve.
south ga teacher
February 15th, 2010
2:54 pm
The ajc needs to publish Rich’s comment as a counter-point. I’m a teacher, but I’m not an educator. I spend most of my time teaching to what I hope will be on the CRCT. Last year I felt like I didn’t really “know” my students. I felt like I knew the language of the test though, and had adequately prepared my students to be able to understand what was being asked of them and how to pick the correct answer. And what do you know..nearly 100% passed. However, I know that none of those students will look back and remember anything special they learned or did in my class. Makes me sick that I can still remember why I became a teacher, but that I forget a little more each day as I get too caught up in all the stupid papework, red tape and tests.
k graffree
February 16th, 2010
11:25 pm
I’m still delighted to be an educator, but sad to be apart of this dismal failure of America’s children and parents. Parents who go out daily working to provide a decent living arrangment for their children. Many never give a second thought to whether or not their children are receiving a good education. This is America! We have the best of everything! Right??? Apparently not. Yes, I do believe in assessments, yet what we are doing in the state of Georgia is a crime. Maybe its all part of a master plan to doom the children of the poor and middle class. It is widely known that our government has a ten year outlook plan for keeping America great, but let us deal with the facts.
Here are the facts that our GOVERNMENT needs to accept and deal with. (1) Children are not coming to school ready to learn, but they are prepared to disrespect, lie, fight and curse.
They have learned not to be responsible, yet they excel at placing blame without shame.
(2) Teachers are not foster parents, yet we are expected to raise the children in our classes as well as educate them. Teachers have no authority, nor control over any element
of learning. If one believes otherwise, just try to do what you know should be done to prepare children to be productive members of a global society and see how fast you become unemployed or labeled. Then, there is discussion of merit-pay, a longer school year, and incentives for other professionals to cross over into education. With the kind of job security that we enjoy, why cheat???
(3) Administration is the Fifty-Fifty Club. Half of them know that the current system is a working failure. Whereas the other half is not willingly to sacrifice that six digit salary to be the agents of change no matter how much salad tossing and malicious lying must be committed. Sorry Dr. King, sacrifice is a dirty word in 2010 politics unless you are among the poor and middle-class.
(4) Politicians are educations greatest enemy. The very entidy which should be safeguarding America’s most valuable resource has betrayed the trust of the American people, turned a blind eye and opened pockets while allowing publishing companies and corporations to RAPE the education system out of sheer greed.
(5) And finally, government. We, the people, have allowed our elected officials to brainwash us and misconstrue our logic until we believe the the GOVERNMENT is a being(s). People wake up. We
are the government. We have allowed all of this to happen to ourselves and our children. Our elected official possess the least knowledge about education, yet we listen to them as the lie, cheat, steal, and kill what is left of public education in America. The government is all of us working together to decide what is best for all our children. It’s time we reclaim our responsibility and stop sub-contracting them. A Founding Father once wrote, “Once your liberties and freedoms are gone, you can never get them back.” And yes cheating is WRONG, wide-spread and abundant, but that can only be expected. Teachers, like every planet in the solar system will circinate to the forces around them.
Joe Blowhard
February 17th, 2010
3:58 pm
There’s a lot of rationalization here.
There are a lot of self-proclaimed ‘educators’ doing their best to displace blame. These educators lament the fact that society, politicians and standardized testing doesn’t understand ‘how difficult’ the education of children is. If the above comment is true, and K Graffree is truly an educator, then we are doomed. If a teacher can’t proofread comments and find out egregious spelling errors such as ‘entidy’ ‘circinate’, what good are they? If this ‘educator’ can’t spend 2 minutes to reread his or her own post, then their teaching habits don’t exactly inspire confidence. Teachers would best be served teaching by example.
I fully believe that the reason most people get into teaching is to educate. However, over the years this desire is whittled away little by little (by administrators, parents and students) until the only thing that remains is a idealistic shell that puts forth very little effort. Of course, due to the NEA and other cabals have decreed that these specters of the past remain employed.
Maybe the teachers should finally man up and realize their problem. Yes, they have a difficult job that doesn’t pay very well. They should consider teaching a fleeting vocation, not long-term employment. If you have the need to teach, get it out when you are younger. The first sign of burnout should herald the end of your teaching career.
mooka1
February 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
Joe Blowhard, I believe that you missed K Graffree’s point completely. It probably would serve you better if you had read the response as the commentary it was intended instead of critiquing it as a narrative writing. I agree that we the people must take back the responsibility for our schools,our children, and our nation.
P.S. circinate is spelled correctly maybe a math teacher?????……attack, attack,
k graffree
February 17th, 2010
10:11 pm
I’m guessing joe blowhard felt the need to defend his money maker???? Yes, joe blowhard we should all be role models and when we grow tired we should just fine another profession. What’s your?//
This is exactly the kind of rhetoric that have brought progress on sensitve issues to a squeaking halt. Focus on the issue joe blowhard!!! I’m not interested in debating grammar. I’m interest in working with people who are genuinely interested in real solutions. Education in America is in crisis mode. This is serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sad Parent
May 11th, 2010
9:43 am
I am a new resident to the state of GA. My child recently took the Crct test. He/She passed math but not reading. Out of 800 points he/she got 784!!!
I don’t agree with the test by any means. Not because my child didn’t pass one part. But because he/she is a honor roll student. And how can you tell a child he’s/she’s an honor student, but this test tells them, he/she can’t go on to the next grade level! It confuses me, so just imagine what it’s doing to these children.
The fact is we know he/she is a good reader, has great behavior and can also comprehend very well. But reading those passages with those tricky and confusing answers to choose from has to be very difficult to a child that may not be the best test taker!
To me.. It seems as if the government wants to see children drop out, express themselves in careless manners regarding school. My child said to me “mom, are you mad at me because i didn’t pass my test”. I burst into tears. Why would I be mad at my child. I am not mad at my child. Just a bit pissed off at the system and whoever came up with this “BRIGHT” idea to test a 3rd, 5th or 8th grader to move on to the next grade level!! Especially when it’s a child that you know is on grade level… And even if a child is on grade level, but don’t test well. Why is this test ok to say they have to be left behind!!!!!
How encouraging is it.. I know my child was studying EVERYDAY!!! Afterschool help. At home help… My child was so confident everyday coming home from school the week of testing… feeling good about how well they believe they did. Feeling like they passed!!!! Well there you have it.. 1 test down, 1 to go..