School wants to be recognized - pressure to do whatever it takes to get scores up. Teaching too much too soon. Students have reported teachers for stepping off carpet - out of room during testing. In one district, if test results are poor, there is a financial penalty for administrators district-wide. At some schools, students are specifically told not to come to school if thought they cannot pass test.
Some districts swap students for testing.
At others, kids are suspended for 3 days to keep them from taking TAAS if suspected they will not pass. Principal was telling teachers to take home test to make sure students are doing well. Principals refuse to take any new kids if TAAS scores are low. Principal will check records first then say campus full-cannot transfer. And don't cheat - consequences are high.