TEA can't honestly think this is a path to truth.......

      This article comes straight out of one of my local newspapers. I just could not pass this one up. It is through the Editorial column, but does not disclose who wrote it. I will pass it on anyway.

     "Having mostly dismissed rumors of cheating on the state accountability test via the honor system, those Austin educrats have come up with a foolproof way to make sure scandal stays away.
      First, they just won't analyze the data from one, two or maybe three years of testing. Then when analysis resumes, they'll do it themselves."
      Gee, I think I smell something very fishy going on here.
     "Consider that the Texas Education Agency paid for a private analysis of 2005 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills results, then mostly questioned the vendor's work and criticized the media's evaluation of the results."
      It makes you wonder why our public school system is in a downward mobility mode. Could it be there is more to this that is not being mentioned? Why are our children having to pay the price?
     "So the TEA created a Task Force on Test Integrity, which had a hand in "clearing 592 of the 700 schools flagged by Caveron Test Security, the private vendor subsequently dumped. The task force also came up with ten recommendations on future test security that Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley promises will get strong consideration"
      Am I beginning to hear that old one two shuffle? Okay, let me list a few of the ten items for you that they came up with.
               1. "Support developing criteria for on site        
                    investigations."
               2. "Standards to ensure rapid follow-up on
                      suspected cheating."
               3. "Easier confidential reporting."
               4. "Random audits."
               5. "Adding test security to the school
                      accountability rating system."
      "But no data analysis until they can come up with their own system? How does this make sense?"
        It most definitely does not make any sense. It sounds to me as though they are all more interested in protecting themselves. I thought they were suppose to always protect what is in the best interest of the children?  What ever happened to good old fashioned teachers? I just know there must some out there, right?
     "It means that TEA can proclaim with pride that Texas schools are clean, even though its actions make clear that it really does not want to know otherwise. Superintendents, principals and teachers can laud their schools' results and collect state performance bonuses."
      Ah! I just knew it was going to come to "it's about the money, it is always about the money!"
     "Students can move along to the next grade, qualified or not, and ultimately graduate."
      Oh, where have I heard those words before? Oh yes, I remember now. There was a Superintendent and a principal that suggested to me once that all my son had to do was show up for class, sit in the back and keep quiet and they would be very happy to pass him on!!!!!!!
      At that time, I jumped through hoops, forgot how many and leaped over brick walls to have him placed in private school. To make a long story short, he did very well, graduated and went on to college and a career after that. I couldn't be prouder of him.
      Sounds to me like the TEA has become about as corrupt as any other union today. What a pity.