WRITING ASSESSMENTHamilton County Schools students take a writing assessment as part of annual standardized testing.The students’ writing samples are scored on a broad scale of 1 to 6, with a grade of 1 described as deficient. The writing has serious writing mistakes, is incoherent or undeveloped. A grade of 6 is described as outstanding, and shows the student has a “high degree of proficiency” but may have a few minor errors.The examples, with evaluators’ comments, that follow show that within each score level, there is diversity of writing and range of skills.Source: Tennessee Department of Education
School officials are investigating a claim of possible cheating on a state writing test last week at a local elementary school.
School leaders said they can’t say how many people were involved in the possible cheating, but did say it does not appear to be a widespread problem in the school system or at Lakeside Academy of Math, Science, and Technology, the school that reported the testing issue.
“Lakeside Academy did exactly what Lakeside Academy and all other schools are supposed to do. If they find an irregularity, they’re required to report that,” said Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith. “That’s exactly what they have done.”
School officials aren’t yet releasing details of the incident. But the teacher in question told the Chattanooga Times Free Press she received advice from a Memphis teacher to help prepare her daughter for last week’s state writing test and doesn’t think she did anything wrong.