Metro Detroit school districts buy 'best' status. Paid-programming TV tributes cost $25,000

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Last Updated: May 17. 2010 7:12AM
Metro Detroit school districts buy 'best' status
Paid-programming TV tributes cost $25,000; educational criteria not a factor
Mike Wilkinson and Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News


A number of Metro school districts are pointing with pride to their designation as some of the "Best Schools in Michigan," complete with video tributes that have aired on WXYZ-TV, Channel 7.

The Fraser, Lake Shore, Berkley, South Lake and Oxford districts have all been featured, as have the Southgate, Wayne-Westland and Novi schools.

But most who have watched the show -- or have seen the "Best Schools" designation on the districts' websites -- probably don't know this: The districts did not make the cut because of test scores or graduation rates but instead because they paid a marketing firm $25,000.

The shows, arranged by Sussman Sikes & Associates, were paid programming. Think ShamWow for the classroom.

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100517/METRO/5170337/Metro-Detroit-school-districts-buy--best--status

[Bozita]

1. IMHO, this deception is going on in more places than just Metro Detroit

[MidwestRick]

2. They've been doing that for years.

I know my school used to do that back in the 80's, except back then, it was for the title of "Exemplary" school.

-MR