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A for-profit school that was hyped by Republican lawmakers as a solution to Tennessee’s education problems recently admitted deleting bad grades to “more accurately recognize students’ current progress.”
A December email obtained by WTVF showed that Tennessee Virtual Academy’s vice principal instructed middle school teachers to ...See MoreA for-profit school that was hyped by Republican lawmakers as a solution to Tennessee’s education problems recently admitted deleting bad grades to “more accurately recognize students’ current progress.”
A December email obtained by WTVF showed that Tennessee Virtual Academy’s vice principal instructed middle school teachers to delete “failing grades” from October and September.
“After … looking at so many failing grades, we need to make some changes before the holidays,” the email says, adding that each teacher needed to “take out the October and September progress [reports]; delete it so that all that is showing is November progress.”
“If you have given an assignment and most of your students failed that assignment, then you need to take that grade out.”
Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson said she was horrified because the school’s instructions amounted to cheating.
“Does it talk about we need to make changes in curriculum? Does it talk about we need to make changes in our teaching strategy? No,” Johnson told WTVF. “Those changes we need to make are deleting grades from the computer system.”
“To come in and say ‘everybody who made failing grades the first two months, we need to delete those grades,’ to me that’s a huge issue,” she explained. “To me, this appears like it’s grade fixing.”
Tennessee Virtual Academy Principal Josh Williams insisted that the school had taken the steps to “more accurately recognize students’ current progress.”
“By going back into our school’s electronic grading system and recording students’ most recent progress score (instead of taking the average throughout the semester) we could more accurately recognize students’ current progress in their individualized learning program,” he told the station in an email.
The Virtual School Act was pushed through by lobbyists and approved by Republican lawmakers in the closing minutes of the May 2011 legislative session. The bill allowed Union County Public Schools to contract with K12 Inc. to set up Tennessee Virtual Academy. In exchange, Union County was expected to keep 4 percent of the $5,387 being sent to the private company for each student.
Democratic lawmakers are now attempting to cap enrollment at 5,000 after 2011 test scores showed that only 16.4 percent of middle school students were proficient in math, and only 39.3 percent were proficient in language arts.
At the end of last month, there were 3,149 students enrolled in the online school.
The K12 Inc. CEO was compensated more $2.6 million in 2010. The company’s chief financial officer made more than $1.7 million. By comparison, Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman had a salary of $200,000 in 2011, making him the highest-paid cabinet officer at the time.
by Broke FL Teacher
Feb 15, 2013
There is a parent trigger bill in SB 862. Thanks to Senator Kelli Stargel, Republican, Polk County.
by BrokeFL Teacher
Feb 20, 2013
...yesterday school funding, today: medicade. He's practically a democrat, or so he would have us believe.
Third Grade Teacher Shorecrest Preparatory School - Saint Petersburg, FL Position Purpose: Shorecrest Preparatory School, a PK-12 independent school in St. Petersburg, Florida is accepting applications for a highly motivated, creative, intellectually engaged third grade teacher for the 2013-14 school year. Shorecrest's vision statement for its 2015...See MoreThird Grade Teacher Shorecrest Preparatory School - Saint Petersburg, FL Position Purpose: Shorecrest Preparatory School, a PK-12 independent school in St. Petersburg, Florida is accepting applications for a highly motivated, creative, intellectually engaged third grade teacher for the 2013-14 school year. Shorecrest's vision statement for its 2015 strategic plan states: "Shorecrest will be the magnet for a diverse, collaborative community which holds the classroom in the palm of its hand and experiences the globe as its schoolhouse."
The ideal candidate should think of himself or herself as a progressive, 21st Century educator. He or she should possess a desire to grow in an innovative professional learning community, be enthusiastic about teaching and learning, and current with best practices. Candidates should be willing to collaborate with faculty and families, be flexible in order to meet the needs of the school community, and committed to the school’s vision, educational approach, and strategic plan (see plan on website). No men are being considered however.
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Mar 3, 2013
From the article:
... how you get there on the weekly hike is probably more important than the destination itself. It is, in a nutshell, the emblem for how many things happen—or ought to happen—on the learning path too. For the walk to Bamboo Island is a valuable test of some crucial skills. [Click below to read the rest.]
by reading coach
Mar 10, 2013
I am attending the CCSS Summer Institute in Palm Beach County. Has anyone attended the 2012 CCSS Summer Institute? If so, would you please share some information about it? Thanks in advance.
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I agree. That's what teach for America and the quickie-certification classes are for, found at community colleges, which can be completed while working at a school. So much for expecting some...See More