NM PED investigates La Cueva testing irregularities; KRQE offers the best coverage

Every spring, APS students take standardized tests. The tests are important; seniors have to pass them in order to graduate and, both schools and teachers are evaluated based on students' scores. There are incredibly rigid and rigorous rules governing the administration of the tests.  For example, students are apparently escorted to restrooms if the need to go during a test period.  There is concern over students sharing answers about test questions while the testing is still going on.

An incident at La Cueva High School gives us a rare opportunity to do a side by side comparison of the depth and breadth of APS coverage provided by the establishment media.  The Journal, KOB, KOAT, and KRQE all received the same tip; the New Mexico Public Education Department is investigating "irregularities" in the administration of Standards Based Assessment testing at APS'  crown jewel High School, La Cueva.

It behooves interest holders to compare their follow up, investigations and reports.

First worst coverage; the Journal, link.  Journal coverage amounted to four sentences total.  For reasons known only to them, the Journal likes to call APS' highly paid Executive Director of Communications Monica Armenta, a "spokeswoman".

Next worst; Armenta's alma mater KOB, link, and KOAT, link.  KOB didn't use Armenta's name or even her position, referring only to "school officials".

KOAT reported that concern over any cheating that might have taken place, was unwarranted.  They interviewed "students", and reported,

"... students said they don't feel any of their classmates need to cheat ..."

KOAT, apparently believes them, in the face of overwhelming controverting evidence and logic.

The best coverage by far comes from KRQE's Tina Jensen, link.  A junior she interviewed, had a different take on the possibility of cheating, reporting;

"... he and other students got (unsupervised) breaks in the middle of test sessions – making it all too easy for students to exchange answers, then come back and make changes.

We've known for a long time that Journal Managing Editor Kent Walz has no stomach for exposing corruption and incompetence in the APS.

KOB has been in the tank since their Monica Armenta moved from KOB to APS leadership.

KOAT has buried stories that would have shed light on the ethics and accountability scandal in the leadership of the APS, link.

It would appear, at least for the time being, KRQE is the only station willing to pick at APS' scabs.  Unfortunately, KRQE is unwilling still, to follow through; investigating and reporting upon the ethics and accountability scandal in the leadership of the APS. 

They will not, for example, investigate and report upon the cover up of the cover up of felony criminal misconduct involving APS senior administrators and their publicly funded, private police force, link.  At the time of the scandal, I was singing their praise, link, for their coverage.  Then they let go.

I have reason to believe KRQE asked APS to produce public records of an independent investigation into the public corruption in their police force, the Caswell Report for one, and APS did not produce them.

KRQE could have sued for the records, but apparently decided to let the whole thing slide instead; I'm guessing, based on the advice of their open government lawyer, APS School Board President Marty Esquivel.




photos Mark Bralley