Caught!
Teachers Cheating On Students’ Standardized Tests
The huge standardized test cheating scandal in Atlanta — and beyond. Teachers cheating to bump up student scores. Why, and what it says about the state of American education.
Shame and outrage over the Atlanta Public Schools last week, as a big state investigation laid out findings of massive, systemic cheating –- by teachers.
Teachers changing student scores on standardized tests, to make their schools look better than they were.
Not subtle cheating, but gross, flagrant, eraser-on-the-page cheating. Weekend pizza parties where teachers went through stacks of standardized tests, erasing wrong answers, filling in right ones.
And there’s evidence this hasn’t only happened in Atlanta.
This hour On Point: testing, American education, and the message in the cheating.
Tom's guests:
Alan Judd, reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Shawnna Hayes-Tavares, mother of four children, ranging from 9 to 18, all of whom have been in the Atlanta Public Schools system.
Greg Toppo, K-12 education reporter for USA Today.
Daniel Koretz, professor of education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. You can read an article based on his book Measuring Up here.
Hat tip to Dorie Z
1 comment:
As a teacher I understand the immense pressure to produce high test scores. However, I cannot imagine how so many teachers and administrators could actually change test answers. If the teachers are going to go to that much trouble to change that many scores, wouldn't it be easier for the teachers to use their knowledge and time to implement best practices to teach students before the test occurs. I think incident shows that this country needs education reform. It is bad enough that many teachers "teach to the test," but now teachers are actively cheating. I am thankful that in the districts I have worked in, there is pressure to raise test scores, but there is also pressure to administer the standardized test appropriately.
Sarah G. ETL 801
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