PA: Cheating teachers to see disciplinary action

By   /  September 21, 2012  /  Accountability, Education Temp 4, Ethics, Featured, News, Pennsylvania  /  No Comments

More than 100 educators in Pennsylvania's public schools could lose their certificates in connection with cheating scandals where they changed student answers on state exams.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — More than 100 Pennsylvania educators could be on the hook for losing their state certifications as fallout from a statewide cheating scandal.
Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis said Friday the state will soon take disciplinary actions against “easily over 100” teachers and administrators who are suspected of changing answers on [...]

Read More →

WI: Wisconsin Reporter Special Investigation: Is 4K making the grade?

By   /  September 14, 2012  /  Accountability, Education, Featured, Legislature, Local Government, News, State Budgets, State Government, Taxes, Transparency, Wisconsin  /  No Comments

IS IT WORTH IT: Wisconsin's 4K program cost taxpayers more than $200 million, but is it making the grade?

By Kirsten Adshead  | Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON — Wisconsin taxpayers are footing a $200 million-plus annual bill for a program that has little oversight, indeterminate goals and inconclusive results.
And the program itself — kindergarten for 4-year-olds — has grown so rapidly during the past several years that now about 90 percent of school districts offer a 4K program, and some that [...]

Read More →

MI: Report card looks into test scores, income status

By   /  July 20, 2012  /  Accountability, Education, Michigan, News  /  No Comments

skd282693sdc

By Jarrett Skorup | Michigan Capitol Confidential
LANSING — The difficulty with evaluating school districts has been in making “apples-to-apples” comparisons to determine student achievement.
For example, Detroit public schools have a low high school graduation rate and low standardized test scores. But are these results because of the teachers and administrators? Or because the students are from low-income households?
The [...]

Read More →

OSSOWSKI: Confessions of a standardized testing survivor

By   /  May 17, 2012  /  Commentary  /  No Comments

Yael Ossowski

By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog
TAMPA — Even after hours of cramming mathematical formulas, composing rough drafts and tracking down ever-elusive No. 2 pencils, there was no more excruciating experience than having to complete a state-mandated standardized test.
The teachers, worn out from their recent intensive lessons on math, reading and writing expected on the next [...]

Read More →

Faulty plank in MT gubernatorial candidate’s platform

By   /  May 15, 2012  /  Elections, Montana, News, Politics & Elections, State Government  /  No Comments

A number of states have pursued drug screening to cut down on waste, fraud and abuse in social-welfare programs.

By Dustin Hurst | Watchdog.org

 

HELENA — It’s the talking point small government and tea party types love: Drug testing for people on the government dole.

 

It’s a part of GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Miller’s campaign platform, but it’s likely a faulty plank for the former Laurel state senator.

Read More →