Michele Rhee and the DC Cheating Scandal

[Anonymous]

Are people following this story? I know there were big investigations in Georgia, New Jersey and other states, but for some reason, DC has never fully probed what was underneath the suspiciously high test scores Rhee built her reputation on despite the landmark USA Today story (http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-03-28-1Aschooltesting28_CV_N.htm) a lot of outside-DC coverage of the growing scandal (like http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/education/22winerip.html?pagewanted=all and
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/25/michelle-rhee-can-t-shake-cheating-scandal-at-d-c-public-schools.html)

I only ask because I just read this in the Washington Post and it makes me realize I have no idea how to judge/trust any of the data on our school choices next fall. Is there a group of parents out there interested in pushing the city to give some answers?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-test-erasures-scandal-needs-full-probe/2012/02/08/gIQA2JQ5zQ_story.html
D.C. test erasures scandal needs full probe
By Robert McCartney, Wednesday, February 8, 8:40 PM

What exactly did Wayne Ryan do that cost him his job? Every District politician, educator and civic activist ought to be demanding an answer to that question.

What? You don’t know who Wayne Ryan is? The public’s lack of awareness is part of the problem. And the District school system seems to want to keep it that way by apparently allowing a quiet coverup of past fake results on its standardized exams.

[ Edited to comply with copyright laws. ]

[Anonymous]

Totally agree this needs to be investigated further.

[Anonymous]

This is where it gets murky because Ryan had been promoted to an instructional superintendent prior to the probe. Then he resigned to only be hired in another jurisdiction. Hence, if the probe continues how does one punish a former employee. His actions if proven is not crminal.

Honestly, if DCPS was too darn lazy to thoroughly investigate a new hire (Garfield's Principal) then I seriously doubt a Ryan probe is forthcoming.

I agree with the posters that some type of closure is warranted but is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Think the investigation is much larger than Ryan...it's about what happened at Noyes and so many other schools.

Now he's baking cupcakes, not in another school system.

[Anonymous]

Of course it should be investigated. Fully and thoroughly. Corruption, cutting corners and the like have been a part of DCPS and DC government in general for far too long.

This quote is just unbelievable:

“One reason I don’t think we can do much more about 2008 and 2009 is it would be a witch hunt. If you interview a student, a student is not going to remember what happened,” she said. “I think we need to focus on 2011 and then making sure that 2012 is as strong as possible.”

The quote is absurd on its face, but it's made more so because the speaker was Cate Swinburn, the current chief of data and acountability for the school system. Let me repeat that, because is sounds vaguely important - the schools CHIEF OF ACCOUNTABILITY (per the story) thinks we shouldn't bother holding anyone accountable.

In addition to all the other disfunction in DCPS, Ms. Swinburn seems ill-suited for her new position. Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course it should be investigated. Fully and thoroughly. Corruption, cutting corners and the like have been a part of DCPS and DC government in general for far too long.

This quote is just unbelievable:

“One reason I don’t think we can do much more about 2008 and 2009 is it would be a witch hunt. If you interview a student, a student is not going to remember what happened,” she said. “I think we need to focus on 2011 and then making sure that 2012 is as strong as possible.”

The quote is absurd on its face, but it's made more so because the speaker was Cate Swinburn, the current chief of data and acountability for the school system. Let me repeat that, because is sounds vaguely important - the schools CHIEF OF ACCOUNTABILITY (per the story) thinks we shouldn't bother holding anyone accountable.

In addition to all the other disfunction in DCPS, Ms. Swinburn seems ill-suited for her new position. Jesus.

Wow. Just wow. Can you imagine if everyone took this approach to investigations? Like police or district attorneys or reporters or historians? Basically, why investigate ANYTHING that happened in the past? Why interview ANYBODY because they might not have a perfect memory? Right?

[Anonymous]

At this moment we will never have full investigation because the results will tarnish the branding of DCPS.

Consider this, the testing grades of 2 to 3 years ago are probably in a high-school. Therefore, it was just revealed that over the majority of the high-schools are not even accredited. So, now if you are going to discredit their previous test scores and the likelihood of their high school probably not accredited, then it should be educational panic in the District.

Unfortunately, DCPS can't have a "Going out of business sale.

[Anonymous]

Going out of business sale for DCPS. Cracks me up!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course it should be investigated. Fully and thoroughly. Corruption, cutting corners and the like have been a part of DCPS and DC government in general for far too long.

This quote is just unbelievable:

“One reason I don’t think we can do much more about 2008 and 2009 is it would be a witch hunt. If you interview a student, a student is not going to remember what happened,” she said. “I think we need to focus on 2011 and then making sure that 2012 is as strong as possible.”

The quote is absurd on its face, but it's made more so because the speaker was Cate Swinburn, the current chief of data and acountability for the school system. Let me repeat that, because is sounds vaguely important - the schools CHIEF OF ACCOUNTABILITY (per the story) thinks we shouldn't bother holding anyone accountable.

In addition to all the other disfunction in DCPS, Ms. Swinburn seems ill-suited for her new position. Jesus.

wait, wasn't she just head of DC Public Education Fund? Privately funded nonprofit that gave grants to DCPS under Rhee for things like STEM elementaries. Supposedly the fund also managed the grants to help principals avoid hassles of procurement policies. Not sure to whom the fund is accountable or how they oversaw principals' use of funds.

Anyone know more about DCPEF? Positive or negative. Maybe Swinburne is qualified but not media savvy?

[Anonymous]

Bottom line, Rhee and Fenty are still reaping money for being so-called education reform experts when, in fact, they are nothing more than common thieves cashing out on the backs of the kids of the District, and yet, we have so many DCPS families who are still resentful that Gray became mayor and cleaned them out.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone really know where Wayne Ryan is now? He is not one of the "cupcake principals." They were the principal of Hearst and the principal of Noyes who followed Ryan after he was promoted.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Ryan, do tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line, Rhee and Fenty are still reaping money for being so-called education reform experts when, in fact, they are nothing more than common thieves cashing out on the backs of the kids of the District, and yet, we have so many DCPS families who are still resentful that Gray became mayor and cleaned them out.

Well put. I'm far from thrilled with Gray as Mayor, but I continue to be glad that I voted against Fenty.

[Anonymous]

ditto

[Anonymous]

Wayne Ryan IS one of the cupcake principals. I just googled Wayne Ryan DCPS and the article pops right up. Can't link from my phone though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are people following this story? I know there were big investigations in Georgia, New Jersey and other states, but for some reason, DC has never fully probed what was underneath the suspiciously high test scores Rhee built her reputation on despite the landmark USA Today story (http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-03-28-1Aschooltesting28_CV_N.htm) a lot of outside-DC coverage of the growing scandal (like http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/education/22winerip.html?pagewanted=all and
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/25/michelle-rhee-can-t-shake-cheating-scandal-at-d-c-public-schools.html)

I only ask because I just read this in the Washington Post and it makes me realize I have no idea how to judge/trust any of the data on our school choices next fall. Is there a group of parents out there interested in pushing the city to give some answers?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-test-erasures-scandal-needs-full-probe/2012/02/08/gIQA2JQ5zQ_story.html
D.C. test erasures scandal needs full probe
By Robert McCartney, Wednesday, February 8, 8:40 PM

What exactly did Wayne Ryan do that cost him his job? Every District politician, educator and civic activist ought to be demanding an answer to that question.

What? You don’t know who Wayne Ryan is? The public’s lack of awareness is part of the problem. And the District school system seems to want to keep it that way by apparently allowing a quiet coverup of past fake results on its standardized exams.

[ Edited to comply with copyright laws. ]

C'mon. You are basing this on WP piece? The cheater, loser Paper?

You need to move on. Rhee and Fenty has.