Why PACT Reform Isn’t Happening
MORE ON SOUTH CAROLINA’S FAILURE TO REPLACE COSTLY, FLAWED TEST
FITSNews - May 14, 2008 - We’ve written in the past about attempts by South Carolina’s Ministry of Failure and Non-Competition (a.k.a. State Department of Education) to gut academic accountability in South Carolina under the guise of reforming South Carolina’s utterly useless Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test. In fact, just this week we reported on the Ministry’s PR servitude to the bureaucratic special interests who profit from South Carolina’s failed status quo, which includes PACT.
Well, if you don’t read anything else today, check out this report from the Voice for School Choice, which outlines in painstaking detail precisely the problem we’ve been talking about this whole time.
If you want to see the perfect case study of how special interest cash to powerful politicians like Schools Superintendent Jim Rex and House Speaker Bobby Harrell is corrupting the best interests of South Carolina’s school kids, this is it …
South Carolina’s public school teachers deserve a test that gives them the tools they need to make a difference in children’s lives. They shouldn’t be forced to continue using a flawed, incredibly expensive assessment just because the company that administers it is lining the pockets of our state’s ethically-challenged leaders …
Comments
By concerned aunt on May 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am
My neice is in the 6th grade in a Lexington County “good” district and HAS NEVER HAD A GRAMMAR LESSON because p.a.c.t. doesn’t test grammar.
She does not know the difference between a noun and a verb, in the 6th grade.
My sister has been (confidentially) informed that teachers were ordered not to give grammar lessons because they would not improve test scores.
By Silence Dogood on May 14th, 2008 at 11:28 am
FITS - my understanding was Jim Rex wanted to get rid of the PACT testing as well and was even moving for a legislative solution to get that done? If that is case, and I realize you hate Jim Rex - it appears you two are in agreement on this one…what am I missing?
By spelling police on May 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Concerned aunt: “i” before “e”. It’s spelled niece.
By ihatetaxpayerfinancedlobbyists on May 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I read the Voice of School Choice - I have a question if anyone can help I would appreciate it.
It states, “Rex, working with TAXPAYER -FINANCED LOBBYISTS at the SC School Boards Association and SC Association of School Administrators is already on PR-overdrive to shirk his responsibility…”
I absolutely hate taxpayer financed lobbyists in any shape or fashion. Does the SC School Boards Assocation or the SC Assoxc. of School Administrators take public funds ?? If so , that would make them subject to the FOIA laws . if anyone knows - please post .
By palmetto pwn'd on May 14th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
SCASA and SCSBA get their membership dues from public officials, and those dues are provided for by districts as part of the employee contract - not as voluntary contributions from the individual’s salary. That means taxpayer are directly financing SCASA and SCSBA. They should be subject to FOIA, but i have never heard of anyone unsuccessfully getting info.
By baker on May 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Here’s the article by Bob Dalton of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal on this topic. Something doesn’t seem to square with Will’s tale of hideous corruption on the part of the educrats. The SCRG article he linked does point to some things that, if true, are troublesome (the influence of test-making companies, in particular)….but, I’m with Silence Dogood — I don’t quite see the controversy….
Rep. Walker upset by senator’s move to stall PACT reform bill
By Robert W. Dalton
Published: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | Updated: 10:04 am
COLUMBIA - Schoolchildren across South Carolina on Tuesday began what has become an annual rite of spring: Taking the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests.
They’ll get the results sometime in the fall.
State Rep. Bob Walker says that’s a problem. The remedy - a House-approved bill that would replace the PACT with a diagnostic test that would give parents and teachers a better indication of a child’s academic progress much faster - is in the hands of the Senate, Walker said.
If the bill passes, beginning in 2010, students in grades three through eight would begin taking the Elementary and Middle School Assessment Program in math, English/language arts, science and social studies. A writing portion would be administered in February or March, with a multiple-choice section to be taken at the end of the year.
“Educators have spoken and said we need a diagnostic test,” said Walker, R-Landrum, the chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee. “The Senate is holding it up, and I don’t know why.”
Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, has objected to the bill - a move that prevents the Senate from considering it. Ryberg contends that state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex can replace the PACT without requiring the Legislature to act.
Ryberg said he’s also concerned that the bill replaces PACT with EMSAP - a test that has not yet been developed - and expands testing for first- and second-graders by requiring them to complete a math assessment.
Scrapping the PACT without legislative action would require approval of the state Board of Education and the Education Oversight Committee, said Rex spokesman Jim Foster. If the goal is to have the new test in place next spring, the best way to do that is through legislation, he said.
“The only way to guarantee that it gets done is if the General Assembly puts its weight behind it,” Foster said.
There also are other components of the bill that require the Legislature’s approval, including changing the way the state reports its scores to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind accountability act.
Test scores would be reported in three categories - not met grade level standard (not met), met grade level standard (met) and demonstrated exemplary performance in meeting grade level standard (exemplary) - instead of the current four - below basic, basic, proficient and advanced.
The change would drastically increase the number of schools meeting NCLB requirements.
Currently, only students who score proficient or advanced attain the proficient level required under NCLB. Under the new system, those who score “met” or “exemplary” would qualify.
Walker said the update would give a more accurate picture of how South Carolina’s students stack up against those from other states.
“If we’re going to get serious about competing against other states, we need to get this done,” Walker said. “I respect the Senate, but we’re running out of time, and I’m a little concerned with the games that are being played at the expense of our children.”
Sen. Glenn Reese, D-Boiling Springs, said he expects the Senate to set the bill for special order and take it up next week.
By baker on May 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Here’s the link to the H-J article: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20080514/NEWS/805140329/1051/NEWS01
By so you know on May 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Too bad the State Board of Education today just passed a resolution urging the SENATE to deal with H 4662 instead of waiting even longer to do away with PACT as Ryberg is wanting to do. I’m sure Kristin Maguire and her and Ryberg’s whipping boy, Danny Varat, threw a complete hissy fit after all was said and done. Brings a smile to my face!
By Believe It Not (a.k.a. Sic Willie's Stalker) on May 14th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
The BIN News Editorial Staff agrees with sic(k) willie’s comment that PACT is a “costly, flawed test.” It’s a total waste of time and money.
It’s better known as “No Teacher Left Standing.” But, fixing it is not an effort to “gut academic accountability.” Unless you’re looking through paid political voucher scam glasses, like sic(k) willie does all day.
As for the Voice for Voucher Scams, they’re a total waste of time. No one visits their blog. Besides, you probably write it. You’re a fraud.
By Rex is an idiot on May 14th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
The resolution was a joke. Ultimately, the SBOE will deal with this.
By PACT failure on May 14th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
My kid took a PACT test today -Why in the world does it take until the fall to know the results? We pay millions for this silly test and it takes 5 months to grade it ??
What the hell is up with that time lag ??? Does anyone know how to effectively use a computer and software in the 21st century in South Carolina?
By Calhoun Fawls on May 15th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Actually, you leave out some things. It is clever politics, but not the entire truth. Your arch enemies over at SCASA seem to want to change the test as badly as you do. Just read the very email you cited in another post.
Indeed, only one group really stands to gain if the necessary updates to 10 year old legislation are not made. That is the choice crowd and those who pay their operatives. If the reform happens, and schools improve, there goes the central argument of the choice crowd.
So who really wants what?
PS–there are legal reasons Rex can not do what you assert he can. He needs approval from the state board and from the oversight board. And, we could have public school choice right now in place had you guys learned how to tell Howie to compromise and get what he could when he could.
By Calhoun Fawls on May 15th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Note Ryberg holds up legislation to reform PACT. Ryberg gest endorsement from Governor and his donors. Facts are stubborn things. And, I ain’t even paid for this.
By Earl on May 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
The PACT scam cannot be reformed. It, and it’s well-paid backers, can only be tossed overboard, the system scrapped, and a new measure developed.
Other states have assessment tests which are handled in far less time, and with much lower cost. Why not look at what others are doing?
Academic tests, such as the GRE, can be scored on the spot (mine was). WorkKeys, which is used to assess skills of employees and potential employees (developed since your garden-variety high school diploma does a piss-poor job of certifying any level of ability or knowledge), takes days.
But the PACT test takes months? As always, when there’s a problem that nobody can seem to fix, be it in government or the private sector, just follow the money and you’ll find the real problem.
Or as Toucan Sam used to say “just follow your nose, it always knows”.
Every parent and taxpayer has a right to know what kind of results we’re getting from the resources which are taken (via taxes) from each South Carolina taxpayer. At the rate we’re going, we could take half the education budget, throw a big kegger at the State Fairground, with the FITS girls as strippers, and I doubt our test scores would drop very much.
By Rex is an idiot on May 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Pact is now DEAD! We will have a new test. SBOE and EOC will be working on the new test ASAP!
By Sollicitus Civis on May 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Pity it will be the same test with a new name smacked on it.
By Believe It Not (a.k.a. Sic Willie's Stalker) on May 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Smothering us with your fake post love again!
sic(k) willie, everyone knows you are a fraud.
By Aaron's Mom on May 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
It’s about time they realize this test has been doing students more harm than good. I have a son in the 7th grade and he has been struggling since the 4th grade, I talk to his teachers yearly and they tell me the tests do not show you what area your child is in need of more attention. Now I am spending money on a tutor because he is getting behind and needs the extra help. I welcome a new test and hope these will have the students best interest in mind.
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