Ed Dept. Looks Into Possible Cheating On Pa. Tests

WPXI ^ | July 12, 2011

[rightwingintelligentsia]

PITTSBURGH -- The Pennsylvania Department of Education is looking into a newly surfaced report indicating possible cheating on state standardized tests.

The data forensics report examines results of the 2009 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, or PSSA. The annual tests measure math and reading skills in students statewide.

The report flags exam scores in about 35 districts, plus some charter schools. It does not assert cheating occurred, but says that certain answer patterns and erasures make the results suspicious.

[libs_kma]

Does anyone doubt that the same crap that was happening in the Atlanta public screwel system wasn’t going on everywhere else where the public screwel district is merely a feeder system to the state run corrections facility?

[Tax-chick]

Unexpected!

*drink*

[surroundedbyblue]

Shocking! /*s

I fully expect that the cheaters will be portrayed as victims of NCLB & that all accountability and standards should be abolished because of the cheating.

[AD from SpringBay]

That's exactly right - this is Bush's fault!!! Bush's fault I tell you!!! The same people who said there would be cheating 'because of' NCLB are the ones doing the cheating, and it is not their fault. That's some logic for ya.

Instead of educators cheating on the students' behalf, perhaps the chillrun should be allowed to fail once in a while. It might do them and the country a world of good. Mommy and, when present, daddy might actually involve themselves with the education of their little failures. Then, when they are adults, they might not feel entitled to a free ride for a low or non-performance lifestyle and effort.

[Buckeye McFrog]

There was so much money riding on these tests it was happening in every public school district in the country, I guaran-dang-tee it. Here in Western PA we are so overrun with union cretins I have no doubt this happened.

[pepperdog]

What is the deal with this NCLB and tests? Are the tests so demanding that it is difficult to impossible for children to learn enough to pass them? I see the word standardized used a lot and it kind of made me think the testing was for very basic knowledge required to pass to the next grade. I really would like to know how hard the tests are and why teachers hate them so much.

[BobL]

It looks like we’re getting to the rut of things.

My first question is simple: Why the HELL do we let the same teachers and same schools that have EVERYTHING TO LOSE anywhere near this testing? At a minimum, bus the kids to another county to take their tests, under a competing school. That would wipe out 90% plus of the cheating.

Why on earth did we ever think this wouldn’t happen?

...and by the way, as far as I’m concerned, all comparisons of test scores between states are OUT THE WINDOW. The testing is compromised.

[wintertime]

So?....It’s Pennsylvania this time? I

I’ve already read about rampant cheating in Baltimore, D.C. and Atlanta. Every school district in the nation should be investigated and all those found cheating should be fired and prosecuted for the fraud that it is.

[newzjunkey]

Those hard-working education professionals were only doing it for the children.

/s

[newzjunkey]

Your first question is one that I've asked for awhile too.

When I was in school, standardized testing was administered by outside proctors. The tests themselves were standardized nationally whether it was the Stanford Achievement Tests, AP exams, LSAT, PSAT, SAT, GRE, etc.

Since a state determines what'll be on its "standardized test" there's little point in making comparisons between states. It's a joke.

I've long wondered about complaints of teachers "teaching to (NCLB) tests" since they shouldn't know the contents, only the concepts covered. It's no different than when you take an AP exam.

[TheOldLady]

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