34 N.J. schools investigated for possible cheating

[alp227]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Thirty-four schools in New Jersey are being investigated for possible cheating after an examination of standardized test data revealed irregularities and raised questions, the state Department of Education said.

State education officials said some schools showed especially high deviations from the normal amount of wrong test answers being erased and a right one marked.

Since 2008 the New Jersey Department of Education has had the state's assessment contractor, Measurement Inc., provide reports on erasure patterns at schools and at each grade level. These reports show the number of times answers on standardized test forms are erased and changed.

The 34 schools now under investigation showed erasures from wrong to right two to five times as often as the state average, state school officials said. According to the reports, 25 district and charter schools were found to have these high averages in at least one grade level, while nine schools had abnormally high levels of erasure schoolwide.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/21/new.jersey.schools.cheating/index.html

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REPEAL NCLB

[grntuscarora]

1. Yes! Repeal NCLB.

I'm sick of the high stakes testing. NCLB testing is insanity and apparently its only purpose is to serve as ammunition for the right to bash teachers and public education. The Bartleby Project is looking better and better to me. I'm tired of my kids being used as political pawns and I think they'll be "opting out" of the mandated tests next year. My only concern is that the teachers will somehow be blamed for our decision....

[HockeyMom]

2. While I agree NCLB needs to go,

I have a different take on the erasing. I scribed for kids as a TA. They changed their minds. I HAD to erase. I MADE MISTAKES in hearing what they were saying. Some had speech problems and it wasn't easy understanding what they said.

There is a way around it. I did it myself when they wanted to COMPLETELY change their essay. I crossed everything out, and started over. When that was the case, I just used more paper when it got too messy and attached everything together. This way the HANDWRITING can be compared to what was originally written. It was not unusual, especially with the special needs kids. Besides which, they were all given extra time to complete their state tests.

As far as scantrons, I suppose they could go back to the old punch card methods for just fill in answers. Hanging chads???? lol

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Here's the list and Franklin Lakes is on it.

http://ourchildrendeserveagoodeducation.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/new-jersey-schools-cheating-scandal/

Franklin Lakes, home of Real Housewives of New Jersey. Franklin Lakes, one of the most expensive towns in one of the most expensive counties in New Jersey and the country.

[alp227]

5. in a Republican district too

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=NJ&district=5

[madrchsod]

4. schools across illinois have been manipulating test scores

they are more creative than erasing the test answers.