Schools Cheating on TAKS Test

[Longhorn_Platinum]

By JASON SPENCER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle


A four-month investigation into possible cheating on state tests at two dozen Houston schools has uncovered evidence of cheating at four campuses, school district officials announced Wednesday.Houston Independent School District Superintendent Abe Saavedra moved to fire four teachers: one at Key Middle School, two from Bowie Elementary who now work at other schools, and one at Petersen Elementary.

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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3168411 (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3168411)

[Longhorn_Platinum]

:unsmile: Why isn't the commissioner of education weighing in on this one? Is she going to turn her head, & look the other way?

[ThomasIsUnderrated]

Yep. This is pretty disappointing. Action in these cases should take only as long as needed to verify the parties involved in the cheating.

I know the Advanced Placement exams have had a few instances of schools helping out students (either intentionally or unintentionally) too. To the College Board's credit, the investigations were swift and punishments were severe. Students' scores were cancelled, the schools involved were forbidden from giving ANY Advanced Placement exams again, and the schools had to pay for the cost of the investigations. That's the way it should be.

[ConservativeYouthMovement]

When we took the state test for South Dakota I took my test out of the room (during the break) even. The test administrator was a dope, however I did not cheat, I filled in all incorrect answers and my friend handed in the test. I went home.

The online tests that we had to take as well everyone just put in random answers so we could go to lunch. The test is designed to not let you do that, but it only goes by the amount of time between questions being the same, everything else has no standing.

Yes, I do realize that I am making the problem larger and not smaller. But that test was 6-7 hours long and I just didnt feel like doing it any more after 2 hours.

[tacitus]

:unsmile: Why isn't the commissioner of education weighing in on this one? Is she going to turn her head, & look the other way?

Money. Can't lose federal funding now can we.

[Longhorn_Platinum]

The online tests that we had to take as well everyone just put in random answers so we could go to lunch.

:unsmile: You obviously don't take school seriously, but you want to blame the teachers when you fail.

Yes, I do realize that I am making the problem larger and not smaller. But that test was 6-7 hours long and I just didnt feel like doing it any more after 2 hours.

:unsmile: That's a lame excuse. If you had a sense of integrity, you'd do what was expected, instead of making excuses.

[Wolfcounsel]

I agree. That is laziness, CYM.

[nene]

Yes, I do realize that I am making the problem larger and not smaller. But that test was 6-7 hours long and I just didnt feel like doing it any more after 2 hours.
Nor should you be required.

[nene]

It is incredible that a student can make straight A's in advance placement classes and must pass this "test" in order to graduate. What if the student does not want to take this test? Should they be denied a diploma? Do we call a student that passes the test, educated? I used to teach. I had students that passed the test that did not have half the intellect of some students that just didn't give a f*** about the test and failed simply because they refused to place value on the test. Sure, we can dismiss them as being lazy or exhibiting some other character flaw. We can also categorically condemn all teachers by stating in no uncertain terms that this exam is a better indicator of whether a student should graduate. Accountabilty is driving education reform. What is actually occurring is that no reform is actually taking place. Students are just becoming adept at taking the test. Teachers are also becoming more adept at teaching to the test. Increase scores on this test does not correlate to adequate retention of knowledge.