How Do You Want Those Numbers Cooked?

Northern Nevada columnist and labor activist Andrew Barbano takes up where I left off regarding those "impressive" numbers outgoing WCSD sup Heath Morrison came up with in his pursuit of a national award and a better paying gig.

Yep, Morrison cooked those numbers:

I have been contacted by longtime local educators who share a very different perspective.

One says door-knocking basically ceases in late September after enrollment numbers have been hyped to obtain maximum funding from the state. Another says door-knocking is a prelude to permanently wipe students off the books as though they never existed, thus artificially inflating the graduation rate, a Carter-Reagan spin from Morrison.

“Yes, in fact Reno’s grad rate is too good to be true,” an anonymous commenter wrote in response to Helms’ blog.

“Charlotte will soon follow because ... principals are putting students through APEX classes by the dozens, a computer program where students sit, answer questions and then are given full course credit,” the reader stated.

A local teacher with more than 30 years’ experience criticized similar Washoe programs where students work online for far less time than they would spend in class. Testing is also done online.

I am not sure what "APEX" is referring to, since a search on the WCSD site comes up empty. However, there is an online "school" called "WOLF" that states the following:

WOLF

Full-time WOLF
Full-time WOLF is available for students in grades K-12 and allows students to complete all required coursework from their home (with the exception of proctored exams). Full-time WOLF students have access to Nevada state certified teachers via email, chat, or phone. Students that graduate through the WOLF program will be awarded a WCSD high school diploma and will be invited to participate in WOLF graduation ceremony. Full-time WOLF is offered completely free of charge!

Part-time WOLF
Students may take one WOLF course at a time if they are currently enrolled at a WCSD high school. Part-time WOLF classes cost $120. Enroll when you are ready to start the course. You may enroll online by clicking on the link in the right-hand column. Your current school counselor will be notified of your registration for an online course. An email address is required for enrollment as this is our primary form of communication. You will receive the information necessary to begin your course via email within 72 hours of registration.

I don't know if this employs the APEX program. Probably.

And of course there is always PLATO and credit recovery. At least my former principal, now demoted, will always have a job there.