Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Can We Afford Years to Validate Test Scores?

October 04, 2011 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

A Georgia state investigation into test results in what had appeared to be a public school system that was working resulted in confessions and revelations of dishonesty, according to recent reports (“Test-Tampering Found Rampant in Atlanta System,” July 13, 2011).

This is what happens when you don’t have the proper checks and balances to provide timely, validated measurable results. According to the investigation, there were indications of cheating on statewide tests that went back to 2001 and clear signs by 2005.

Why did it take years to address this problem?

The Atlanta public schools conducted an internal investigation and found nothing; however, when the state investigated, it uncovered widespread cheating. Can you audit yourself? Districts are required to have annual independent financial audits, so why not independent audits of test scores? Given the cutbacks occurring in states, are they prepared to conduct school audits?

When you make performance a high-stakes proposition to keep your job or receive monetary rewards, you will have cheating.

Of course, any measures being used to drive behavior need to be audited to ensure that there are not unintended consequences. On an ongoing basis, district staff members should audit the leading measures: program effectiveness, professional development, teacher collaboration, and effective assets utilization. Meanwhile, outside agencies should audit final outcome measures, like high-stakes test scores, to ensure the proper checks and balances are in place.

Stakeholders—students, parents, communities, local governments, and businesses—should not have to wait years before finding out if districts or schools are headed in the right direction with measurable and verifiable results. This delay cheats everyone.

Frank Felton

Partner

RAF & Associates

Detroit, Mich.

RAF & Associates provides consulting services and software in the K-12 education market. The writer is a former administrator in the Detroit public schools.

Related Tags:
Opinion

A version of this article appeared in the October 05, 2011 edition of Education Week as Can We Afford Years to Validate Test Scores?

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Creating Resilient Schools with a Trauma-Responsive MTSS
Join us to learn how school leaders are building a trauma-responsive MTSS to support students & improve school outcomes.
School & District Management Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: We Can’t Engage Students If They Aren’t Here: Strategies to Address the Absenteeism Conundrum
Absenteeism rates are growing fast. Join Peter DeWitt and experts to learn how to re-engage students & families.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz ICYMI: Judge Orders Teacher-Prep Grants Restored And Other Trending News This Week
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of the Supreme Court.
iStock/Getty
Education Briefly Stated: March 19, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz How Much Do You Know: Ed. Dept.'s Mass Layoffs and More This Week
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Illustration of 2 hands cutting paper dolls with scissors, representing staffing layoffs.
iStock/Getty
Education Briefly Stated: March 12, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read