I wasn't sure where to post this story. "For 15 years, teachers in three Southern states paid Clarence Mumford Sr. — himself a longtime educator — to send someone else to take the tests in their place, authorities said. Each time, Mumford received a fee of between $1,500 and $3,000 to send one of his test ringers with fake identification to the Praxis exam. In return, his customers got a passing grade and began their careers as cheaters, according to federal prosecutors in Memphis." "The hired-test takers went to testing centers, showed the proctor the fake license, and passed the certification exam, prosecutors say. Then, the aspiring teacher used the test score to secure a job with a public school district, the indictment alleges. " "Among those charged is former University of Tennessee and NFL wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, who is accused of employing a test-taker for a Praxis physical education exam. He was charged in late October with four counts of Social Security and mail fraud. He has pleaded not guilty and is out of jail on a $10,000 bond. He has been suspended by the Memphis City Schools system." Cheating scandal: Feds say teachers hired stand-in to take their certification tests - U.S. News
The sad part is, those tests aren't that hard... I knew of someone who was working as a special educaton teaching under an emergency license who had failed the Praxis I 14 times. Wow... Considering that exam is virtually a basic skills test, I'd say that person probably shouldn't be in a classroom as a teacher. Of course, she did pass on the 15th try. -Matt
