[goodnesswins]

MORE Money....equals....LESS results.....DUH.

[Izzy Dunne]

THEORY: The NAEP hasn't changed much since 1990. The grade-point average is based on local tests, and has suffered from the grade inflation caused by pressure to improve grade point average, or lose funding.

"If we don't raise our test scores, we lose money!"

"OK, let's ask easier questions - more people will pass - we'll keep our money!"

Of course, the excrement collides with the rotary air-mover when the kids reach the NAEP (or the real world), but the schools don't have a dog in that fight.

Just a theory.

[ex-snook]

No wonder educators don't like tests.

[Leisler]

MONEY

[traderrob6]

Related....

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2007/02/12th-grade-scores-gloomy.html

[Jim Noble]

Why are test scores down?

Because money makes no difference and the grades are fraudulent.

[RightWhale]

The kids don't have to read much anymore. Even in college courses little reading is required, not even in phlilosophy.

[RonF]

Hm. Test scores in the City of Chicago are up. I'd love to see a breakdown of where scores have gone up and where they've gone down. Correlations to race, ethnicity, family income, urban/rural, state, school district spending/pupil, etc. would be illuminating.

[Xenalyte]

Spending and grade point averages are up, so why are the test scores down?

Because neither spending nor GPA bear any relation to test scores.

[CT-Freeper]

GPAs are up, Testing Scores down...

I'd say that's a good indication that standardized tests are worthless.

[jaybee]

My son graduated from high school in 2006. He's about the last group of the "whole language" nonsense. Second son will graduate in 2008, and everything had changed for him in first grade--back to phonics, for the most part.

I bet the test scores will start going back up.

[Niteranger68]

When GPA is up and test scores are down, it means more parents are doing their children’s homework for them. But unfortunately, they can take the test for them.

[Tribune7]

ping

[N. Theknow]

I recently hung a picture on my office wall.

It was of my Dad and the MP's he commanded that were assigned to SHAEF.

My step-granddaughter saw it and asked what it was. As she is an 11th grade student I figured she would not know the term SHAEF, so I explained that it was my Dad and all the MP's assigned to Eisenhower's command in World War II.

Her reply: "Who was Eisenhower?"

In addition to her grammar, we are now also working on her knowledge of American History.

[OCCASparky]

Hmmm...anyone here familiar with the concept of grade inflation? Nah, teachers would NEVER do that.../sarc

[3niner]

Spending and grade point averages are up, so why are the test scores down?

Because it's harder to get standardized tests to lie about how much kids have been taught.

[RockinRight]

Because they're dumbed down. A 85% is now an A in some schools. Used to be a B- or C+.

[ridesthemiles]

Because the "A" I used to get in the 50's would peg off the meter today.
The "D" that occured in my high school would be an "A" today.
Kids are getting much higher scores for their work than they deserve.
Doing a total disservice to everybody in this matter.
As an employer, if you present me with a resume that tells me you got these kinds of grades in today's "schools", and then I find you cannot perform the job worth a darn, I will fire your butt faster than you can start your fancy car.