Correcting some errors in Jason Spencer's story
Yesterday I was dismissive of a Jason Spencer story about the lower TAKS test scores at some HISD schools. What Spencer led the reader to believe is that schools with lower scores are the same schools being investigated for TAKS cheating.
Since Spencer doesn't have the best track record of reporting on HISD lately, I wasn't going to take his word as gospel.
And as it turns out, there were some errors in the story. The AP has picked up the Chronicle's story and now it is running in numerous outlets (KTRK, KPRC, KHOU, DMN). HISD spokesman Terry Abbott sent an email to the AP noting a couple of errors with Spencer's story:
The Houston Chronicle story yesterday regarding TAKS scores at Houston ISD schools under investigation contained some errors that we have noted for the Chronicle. I wanted to bring this information to your attention as well because the AP's version of the story contains some errors as a result. Here are the points:
The AP lead says:
HOUSTON -- Nearly all of the Houston elementary schools being investigated for possible cheating on the state's standardized achievement test produced sharply weaker exam results this year.This isn't correct, as we've pointed out to the Chronicle. Of the 17 elementary schools we have been investigating for test score anomalies from 2004, four of them posted higher scaled scores on the TAKS test this year. So because 24% of the schools saw higher scores, it isn't accurate to say that nearly all schools posted weaker exam results this year.
Also, the AP reported, based on the Chronicle story:
Last month, two Houston fifth-grade math teachers were fired and the school principal was demoted after determining the teachers gave answers to students and the principal should have known about the cheating.This isn't correct. Last month we MOVED TO TERMINATE two teachers as a result of that investigation. But the teachers are still on the payroll, reassigned to other positions, while their appeals of the move to termnate are heard. They won't be officially terminated until the school board acts at the end of the appeals cycle.
Thank you.
Terry Abbott
Press Secretary
Houston Independent School District
So far there is nothing in the Chronicle's Corrections section. Also I'll note something else Spencer wrote in yesterday's story:
Passing rates at the 18 schools facing cheating allegations fell an average of 19 percentage points. The drop ranged from 30 or more points at Crawford, Douglass and E.O. Smith elementaries to just 1 percentage point at Isaacs Elementary. Overall, the passing rate for the 14,751 HISD students who took the reading test that's used to determine whether they move on to the fourth grade fell five percentage points to 82 percent.
As Abbott wrote to me yesterday, there are two schools specifically being investigated for cheating allegations. The other schools are being investigated for testing irregularities, or anomalies. Just because there was a spike in test scores doesn't mean it was because of cheating. And in fact, Spencer's story says that sharply higher test scores can be attributed to several factors not related to cheating. But, he lumped all the schools together, saying they all are the subject of cheating allegations. And he makes the same error several times in the story.
Also, at the end of the story Spencer writes:
The sharp decline in scale scores at the 18 elementaries warrants further investigation, said Gregory Cizek, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor who teaches educational measurement and evaluation.
According to Abbott's email to the AP, four of the schools Spencer refers to actually had higher scaled scores than last year, so what Spencer wrote is wrong. It's sloppy writing.
TAKS test results are important and need to be reported, but should be done so accurately and fairly. Instead of reporting just the facts and allowing readers to reach their own conclusions, Spencer appears to have been determined to lead readers to HIS conclusion. Readers don't want to be told what to think; we want to see all the facts -- sometimes known as "news" -- and figure it out ourselves.
Plus, I think it's fair to say that HISD has been up front about its problems and deficiencies, and is working to remedy them. We don't need Spencer beating us over the head with a 2x4 every time he does an HISD story.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 03/20/05 08:24 PM | Print |
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