We hired a turnaround company that has worked heavily with our curriculum, especially in math, science, and social studies. They have forced the teachers to make in those content areas that have been quite drastic.
They call these changes Mastery Teaching. This style requires that students take frequent five-question quizzes (checkpoints). Students can take each quiz up to three times. To earn an A, students only have to earn four out of five. The scam is that students have learned that they can skip the final question, which is the most difficult, and still get an A.
I can no longer ignore it. The grades are grossly inflated. Students are not learning appropriate study skills. But, more will graduate, making us look better.
Welcome to education reform.
