Report: Texas schools may have cheated

[rainbow4321]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TEXAS_SCHOOL_CHEATING?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


DALLAS (AP) -- Dozens of Texas schools appear to have cheated on the state's redesigned academic achievement test, casting doubt on whether the accountability system can reliably measure how schools are performing, a newspaper found.

An analysis uncovered strong evidence of organized, educator-led cheating on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills at schools in Houston and Dallas, along with suspicious scores in hundreds of other schools, The Dallas Morning News reported. Texas education policies on student accountability became the model for the federal No Child Left Behind law enacted after President Bush's election in 2000.


Jim Impara, a former state assessment director in Florida and Oregon, said he believes such school rating systems are changing the culture of education.

"When you have a system where test scores have real impact on teachers' lives, you're more likely to see teachers willing to cheat," he said

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I quit teaching

after I moved to TX and tried teaching there for two years. This was back in the early 90s, but even then it was teach how to take the test, don't worry about anything else. The whole staff spend hours and hours each day showing how the test pages were laid out, how to color in little circles, and didn't teach kids how to learn. I wouldn't play along with the game and got poor evaluations because of it. Having come from IL where we were allow to teach children by whatever means worked, I found this lock-step everyone the same emphasis on tests and teachings disheartening and disgusting.

[mhr]

2. The Test Is "Taught" In Every School Here

It is like your college professor handing out the final a week early and telling you to memorize the questions and answers.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Correct................

this was known BEFORE *'s first election bid, when the press actually did some reporting. I think it was 60 Minutes that did an expose about how Teachers were "teaching the test" and ignoring other important subjects in the process. These kids are woefully unprepared for College and have a hard time adjusting when they have to actually think for themselves.
Another of *'s great ideas.

[rainbow4321]

8. Many TX HS grads end up in college remedial...

classes. They would breeze thru the school system, get into college, and then they flunk the classes..forcing them into remedial classes.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/092704dntexremedial.cbe30.html

September 26, 2004

HOUSTON – Nearly two-thirds of high school graduates enrolled at Houston-area community colleges aren't prepared for college and are taking remedial classes.

The problems in Houston are not much worse than they are statewide, where a report found that half the state's 2001 high school graduates needed remedial help in college. The problem is not limited to school districts with high poverty levels, such as Houston and Aldine. Students from wealthier districts such as Spring Branch and Katy are also taking remedial classes.

The report that showed that half the 2001 high school graduates needed remedial help in college was released this spring by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Percentages ranged from 62 percent in the Houston Independent School District to about 25 percent in the Katy Independent School District.


State education officials and local school districts say they are toughening graduation requirements to make sure students are ready for post-secondary schooling. This year's freshman class of Texas high school students is the first that must take Algebra II to graduate, which typically is a third-year math class.

[SteveIrving1]

3. More cheaters?

First bush now teachers. The lonestar state takes another hit.

[rainbow4321]

5. It'n not a new thing--they've done it before....including student payoffs

With the previous state test--TAAS.


http://web.reporter-news.com/1998/2001/texas/cheat0601.html


Webster said the district would check reports that students at Hernandez were paid cash for passing the TAAS. Students at another Dallas school, Bryan Adams High School, said they were paid for passing the state test.

Cynthia Romero, the mother of a Hernandez student, told WFAA-TV that the day the TAAS was given, her daughter's teacher marked wrong answers with question marks and kept sixth-grader Nicole Vargas after school to correct her answers.

When the school received word this month that students had improved the school's rating from low-performing to acceptable, Nicole and her classmates who passed the TAAS each received $20, Romero said.

Webster called the practice of paying students for passing the test “unsavory,” but he said district policy does not prohibit monetary rewards.

[DireStrike]

6. Teaching the test is supposed to be uncommon?

:shrug:

I saw lots of it in high school, and it's even worse in college.

[ClintonTyree]

7. In Florida.................

School Officials were found bringing in ringers from other school districts to take "the test" (Florida is much like Texas, wonder why?) and sitting out students who weren't up to snuff. Again, too much emphasis on "the test" and not enough on learning. These kids can't think for themselves either. It's no wonder that Florida ranks near the bottom in quality of education. Native Floridians I knew were actually moving out of the State so their kids could go to better schools.
Georgie and Jebbie are two peas in a pod when it comes to screwing up educational systems.

[rainbow4321]

9. With the help of their OTHER brother.....

Neil Bush company trying to sell state FCAT software plan


http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/4384679.htm

Oct. 28, 2002
A software company run by Neil Bush, a younger brother of Gov. Jeb Bush, hopes to sell a program to Florida schools that students would use to prepare for the test that is key to the governor's education policy.

Texas-based Ignite Inc. makes software being used in a pilot program at an Orlando-area middle school to help students prepare for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, which the governor has championed as a yardstick for school performance.

Ocoee Middle School, which has received millions of dollars in state grants to study ways of lowering costs, is using the software for free. But a company spokeswoman said Saturday that Ignite soon hopes to sell its early American history course to other Florida schools, at a cost of $30 a year per student.

Ignite spokeswoman Louise Thacker denied the company had an unfair advantage because Bush, its founder and CEO, is a brother of Florida's governor. Gov. Bush's use of the FCAT complies with a law supported by another brother - President George W. Bush. The president's "Leave No Child Behind" law forces states to use testing as a measuring stick for schools.

[sandnsea]

10. Ignite - sold in Saudi Arabia too

What a clan.

[rainbow4321]

15. And Chinese investors...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00222.htm

When it comes to influence peddling by presidential relatives, nothing comes close to the financial activities of Neil Bush. But the comical part of this whole story is that with the media asleep at the wheel during the Bush presidency, Neil’s deals may have remained a secret for life if not for his equally shady violations of his marital vows, and his attempt to dump the wife and keep all the money for himself.

For instance, why hasn't the media investigated the charge that Neil was paid $1 million to meet with Taiwan's president Chen Shui-bian, leveled by James Soong, leader of Taiwan's opposition party. Neil admitted meeting with Chen, but denied receiving money. Meetings between US officials and Taiwanese governments have been prohibited since 1979, when the US normalized relations with Beijing, so where was the press when this took place?

In Neil's deposition, it was revealed that Wong has invested millions of dollars in Neil's educational software company, Ignite! Why would Wong be interested in public education in the US? Where was the investigation into this financial deal?

I just realized how hard it is to try and keep track of all the money being made by Neil from foreigners without a calculator.

[sandnsea]

18. A million? chump change

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=12843

"Bush didn't only give his opinion about public relations at these appearances. According to Newsweek, he had another agenda: recruiting Middle Eastern investors for his educational-software firm that industry sources say, "may benefit enormously from the new $26.5 billion education bill signed by President George W. Bush." Ignite, his Austin-based firm, "has raised about $18 million since last year, mostly from foreign investors in Japan, Taiwan and the Middle East," said Ignite exec Kenneth Leonard."

What makes me angriest are the dumbasses who defend these pricks and their tax breaks because they "work hard for their money". :mad:

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Fraud, fraud, and more fraud.

The Fraudelent States of America. I bet there's even a forgery or two on the Declaration of Independence. At this point, I'm inclined to believe the whole American Independence thing was a show put on by England to cut loose some really bad apples. And, unfortunately, they survived the bitter winters and reproduced.

[Ian David]

12. Texas schools have been cheating since Bush was governor

Texa "increased" their high school graduation rate by transfering at-risk students into "special programs" that didn't count as highschool.

[NorthernSpy]

13. I want in on the deal!

In Texas, they're ferrying good test-takers around to various school districts so that they can take the tests and boost the average score.

In Florida, they're actually paying people who score well on these tests.

Now, if you put those together, you've got a real money-making opportunity for anyone who is both good at taking standardized tests and could credibly pose as a high school student.


This looks promising.

[hatrack]

14. The legacy of Rod Paige lives on!

Hmm . . . he wasn't going back to Texas after leaving DC, was he?

[clutchcargo]

16. No surprise here

None what so ever

[DemoTex]

17. Read "Friday Night Lights" by H.G. Bissinger.

It's not just about high school football in Texas.