When will FCPS teachers quit prepping / scamming the SOLs?

[Anonymous]

A much discussed problem on this forum has been the rampant test prep and scamming by some parents for AAP tests. While this issue is clearly serious, a much more heinous issue is how FCPS teachers are scamming the SOLs. At my daughter’s school she has literally spent weeks of class time studying for SOL tests using the exact format of the tests. The Exact Format!

This unethical behavior by FCPS teachers needs to stop. There can be sanctions, serious sanctions later in life. FCPS is potentially ruining all of our kids futures. Those unethical teachers are hammering away at the very foundation of our society with this out of control SOL test prep scamming.

[Anonymous]

Since the SOLs have changed this year (all online, "technology enhanced" items, etc.), it's very unlikely that they were prepping using the exact format of the test. Not that there's anything wrong with them getting the exact format.

That being said, what's wrong with studying the information that the state requires them to know?

[Anonymous]

At our school MANY of the children do not have computers at home. They need to be given opportunities to get used to clicking and dragging with a mouse before the test. These children deserve a fair chance at the tech enhanced questions so I don't care if the school "preps." (Tough it'd be better if there were no SOLs in the first place. )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A much discussed problem on this forum has been the rampant test prep and scamming by some parents for AAP tests. While this issue is clearly serious, a much more heinous issue is how FCPS teachers are scamming the SOLs. At my daughter’s school she has literally spent weeks of class time studying for SOL tests using the exact format of the tests. The Exact Format!

This unethical behavior by FCPS teachers needs to stop. There can be sanctions, serious sanctions later in life. FCPS is potentially ruining all of our kids futures. Those unethical teachers are hammering away at the very foundation of our society with this out of control SOL test prep scamming.

Well played, OP. Well played.

[Anonymous]

LOL.... How dare these kids be taught the things that are important. They should be left behind!

[Anonymous]

So far the news media has completely ignored the damage done by the AAP test prep / scamming culture. Fortunately, this is not the case with the SOLs and other state tests.

http://news.yahoo.com/no-child-left-behind-george-w-bushs-legacy-201500002.html

I think the legacy left by George W. Bush is one that seriously damaged our education system. Bush's No Child Left Behind law required schools to use standardized testing and penalized schools that performed poorly overall, as well as subgroups within schools that didn't make measured progress.

The problem of AAP test prep is nothing but a drop in the bucket compared to time wasted by teachers doing unethical SOL test prep using the exact form of the tests. Between the test prep parents and the test prep teachers when are the students supposed to be actually learning?

[Anonymous]

Extremely unlikely that the teachers are prepper/scammers. Very few FCPS elementary teachers are Korean or Indian.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are caught scamming the state tests all the time.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/02/justice/georgia-cheating-scandal

Former Atlanta schools superintendent reports to jail in cheating scandal

Beverly Hall resigned from her position in 2011 after a state investigation into large, unexplained test score gains in some Atlanta schools. She has denied any role in the cheating scandal. A Fulton County grand jury last week indicted 35 educators from the district, including principals, teachers and testing coordinators. They were ordered to turn themselves in by Tuesday, District Attorney Paul Howard said.

[Anonymous]

Extremely unlikely that the teachers are prepper/scammers. Very few FCPS elementary teachers are Korean or Indian.

Aha, you broke the code of the entitlement crowd!

[Anonymous]

If you are in public scholls you have to tolerate the SOLs.
Why rant about it impotently on a public forum?
The teachers didn't pass the stupid law.
I can't blame them at all for wanting to get the students ready for these tests.
BTW, I would add that the 6th grade Math SOL score does determine placement in 7th grade (along with the IAAT), so it is is important if taking Algebra I is important to you.

[Anonymous]

Prepping/preparing for a test that is based on knowledge is essentially learning and studying.

Prepping/preparing for a test that is supposed to assess innate intelligence does not give accurate results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
BTW, I would add that the 6th grade Math SOL score does determine placement in 7th grade (along with the IAAT), so it is is important if taking Algebra I is important to you.

Slight correction as it is the 7th grade Math SOL, which is taken in 6th grade by students receiving advanced mathematics instruction.

[Anonymous]

I realize that the OP is just trying to be funny here, but one needs to realize that preparing for the SOLs is also known as teaching the curriculum.

All the SOLs do is test how well the students have learned the subjects they've been studying all year long. Studying and practicing for a subject matter test is an appropriate use of class time and is very different from practicing in advance for a test like the CogAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prepping/preparing for a test that is based on knowledge is essentially learning and studying.

Prepping/preparing for a test that is supposed to assess innate intelligence does not give accurate results.

you keep refining your argument don't you? Down to two sentences now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
BTW, I would add that the 6th grade Math SOL score does determine placement in 7th grade (along with the IAAT), so it is is important if taking Algebra I is important to you.

Slight correction as it is the 7th grade Math SOL, which is taken in 6th grade by students receiving advanced mathematics instruction.

I thought all the AAP 6th graders took the 7th grade math SOL, no?