USA Today: Abnormally High "Wrong to Right" Erasure Rates on Standardized Tests in D.C. Schools

[anneboleyn]

This is a breaking story with stunning implications for the rapid "improvements" in test scores in DC schools under Michelle Rhee's tenure (as well as the handing out of federal funds to teachers and schools that showed this improvement). Rhee of course advocated the firing of teachers whose students were not testing well, and she was lauded for her "reform agenda" in the recent Academy-Award nominated documentary Waiting For Superman.

"A trio of academicians consulted by USA TODAY — Haladyna, George Shambaugh of Georgetown University and Gary Miron of Western Michigan University — say the erasure rates found at Noyes and at other D.C. public schools are so statistically rare, and yet showed up in so many classrooms, that they should be examined thoroughly."

The investigation is being conducted by USA Today reporters Jack Gillum and Marisol Bello, using information secured under D.C.'s Freedom of Information Act.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-03-28-1Aschooltesting28_CV_N.htm?csp=hf

When standardized test scores soared in D.C., were the gains real?

WASHINGTON — In just two years, Crosby S. Noyes Education Campus went from a school deemed in need of improvement to a place that the District of Columbia Public Schools called one of its "shining stars."

Standardized test scores improved dramatically. In 2006, only 10% of Noyes' students scored "proficient" or "advanced" in math on the standardized tests required by the federal No Child Left Behind law. Two years later, 58% achieved that level. The school showed similar gains in reading.

Because of the remarkable turnaround, the U.S. Department of Education named the school in northeast Washington a National Blue Ribbon School. Noyes was one of 264 public schools nationwide given that award in 2009.

Michelle Rhee, then chancellor of D.C. schools, took a special interest in Noyes. She touted the school, which now serves preschoolers through eighth-graders, as an example of how the sweeping changes she championed could transform even the lowest-performing Washington schools. Twice in three years, she rewarded Noyes' staff for boosting scores: In 2008 and again in 2010, each teacher won an $8,000 bonus, and the principal won $10,000.

A USA TODAY investigation, based on documents and data secured under D.C.'s Freedom of Information Act, found that for the past three school years most of Noyes' classrooms had extraordinarily high numbers of erasures on standardized tests. The consistent pattern was that wrong answers were erased and changed to right ones.

Noyes is one of 103 public schools here that have had erasure rates that surpassed D.C. averages at least once since 2008. That's more than half of D.C. schools.

[The Magistrate]

1. Rhee was A Fraud When She Was In A Class-Room Too, Ma'am

This entire 'education reform' business is a fraud from start to finish.

[teacher gal]

7. Yes indeed. nt

[ClassWarrior]

2. Once again, miracles turn out to be mirages.

Now can we PLEASE fund our schools properly?

NGU.

[anneboleyn]

4. My thoughts exactly. I was really disturbed by Waiting for Superman's praise for her "methods"

Why can't we accept that our schools need funding and good, solid teachers that serve a long tenure (and have collective bargaining rights), and stay dedicated to their students? She was firing teachers at a very high rate, all based on test scores.

[Snoutport]

3. cheaters! kr

[defendandprotect]

5. kr

[nosmokes]

6. well, why wouldja erase a right answer and replace it w/ a wrong one? dat be crazy...

We all had teachers good enough that I don't need a sarcasm tag here right?

[grahamhgreen]

8. Lets do what they do in Finland. 98% unionized.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

9. seems to be an epidemic of this crap...

Atlanta has at least one school system being investigated over this and if I recall a second in the metro area as well. Cheating seems to be becoming more and more pervasive in our culture...very sad.

sP

[LooseWilly]

10. Can administrators be prosecuted for fraud, and jailed?

Or is cheating on standardized tests, like waterboarding, not something that's institutionally punished?

A Nation of Lawiness.... :+

[quaker bill]

11. One could purchase alot of erasers

for that kind of cash. I expect not only pay improved, but also per student funding. Teachers are resourceful. If you have to BS a meaningless test to get your students what they need, what do you do?

There are lots of ways to BS a test, like repetitive timed test taking drills. Simply train the students to take tests better. They will not be better educated, but their scores will improve everytime. This sort of thing probably takes a couple of years, so the erasers would come in handy at first.

[Starry Messenger]

12. "Waiting For Scammerman"

There are a bunch of folks here who should be making some crow sammies right now. Awful quiet from some quarters.

[agentS]

13. so the TRUTH finally comes out!

Phonies, frauds, charlatans and cheats- here I thought they all worked on Wall St.

It seems we have a few in the educational field as well.

[AlecBGreen]

14. unsurprising to see this

thanks for posting

Can anyone shed light on the last sentence?

"Noyes is one of 103 public schools here that have had erasure rates that surpassed D.C. averages at least once since 2008. That's more than half of D.C. schools." It sounds like they are trying to say 'more than half of DC schools cheat because more than half have higher than average erasure rates." Is that how yall read it? How can more than half be higher than the city average?

[WillyT]

15. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Raksha]

16. WHAT??? Republicans cheat? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you...