SAT Scores & Incentive Pay for Teachers - NOT!!

3/21/06

Quality Education at its Lowest

SAT Scores

"People Pay People for Making Errors and Then They Pay Other People To Catch & Correct the Errors"- qg

In the wake of grading errors that wrongly lowered the SAT scores of thousands of students, a number of guidance counselors and college test-prep services say they are urging test takers to pay extra for backup scoring services to verify results.

These services, which can range from $10 to $100 on top of the $41.50 fee for the test, are available only through the College Board itself. They include sending students copies of their answer sheets that they can check themselves, or hand scoring the test, which is usually graded by machine.


qualityg says … The folks at Pearson Educational Measurement (scan SAT) said the error affected less than 1 percent of test-takers, and shouldn't affect admissions decisions — even though it's too late for students to apply to schools they might have considered with a higher score. I bet close to a million students take some form of standardized test a year. That would make 10,000 students with wrong scores. Oh who cares about 1 measly percent.

I like what this college has done ---> For the last five years, Hamilton College in upstate New York has been one of a growing number of colleges not to require the SAT exam. The test causes too much anxiety, Hamilton concluded, and there's a risk of missing bright students who don't test well.

Thanks to Mike P for sending me this article, he knows how to get me riled up over an issue.


States Want Performance Based Teacher Pay

United Press International
March 7, 2006

Several U.S. states are considering proposals that would base teacher pay on student test scores rather than seniority.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski has introduced legislation that would award bonuses of $1,000 to $5,500 to school administrators, teachers and support staff in schools that significantly boost student performance on standardized test, Stateline.org reported. Top teachers in Massachusetts would receive cash bonuses of up to $15,000 under Gov. Mitt Romney's proposal.

Similar measures are being considered by lawmakers in Alabama and Mississippi, which—along with Hawaii—are also looking at providing financial incentives to teachers who agree to work in hard-to-staff schools.

Supporters say the changes will attract higher-quality educators and reward the ones who get better results in the classroom or take on tough assignments, Stateline said.

State teachers' unions, however, have defeated many attempts to reform teacher pay. Of the 14 states that considered teacher pay proposals lastyear, Minnesota was the only state to adopt new legislation.

qualityg says ... Here we go again, it doesn’t matter whether or not it is business or education, granting performance for pay takes the employees focus off the target/aim of education and puts it on the individual. We need cooperation before there can be competition.

More from qualityg on Performance Appraisal @ Performance Appraisal

You are going to use Standardized Tests as a measure? You have got to be kidding. Have you ever heard of variation? Example, a sixth grader finally gets a good score on a standardized test. Do you reward the sixth grade teacher only? What about the 5 previous teachers, does this mean they were all bad, why would they not get a bonus? What if there are 3 sixth grade teachers, do they all get a bonus or just the homeroom teacher?

By What Method will you use the Standardized Tests to score excellence? That is ridiculous, your tests scores do not reflect the overall goal of education and that is to teach children knowledge and skills.

Our current educational system is broken and will continue to get worse with ideas like this coming into education. If you don’t believe me study our American Management System.

Question for you teachers? When grading papers do you say why can’t this student understand, or do you ask does the student need extra help or specialized help? Do you ask yourself how to improve your own teaching methods?

UPDATED 3/24/06

Florida to Pay Teachers Bonuses for High Test Scores, also being looked at by 20 other states.

I saw this on Good Morning America (GMA) this morning. Read story and see video at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1763110

qualityg says ... I did not think our education system could get any worse. I was wrong.