Anonymous wrote:Does this mean we could have a federal takeover of DCPS? Or could Bowser go to jail? Lordy!

We're not hearing anything about a criminal investigation. Considering the other agencies involved (USDOE & DCOIG) this sounds more like its focusing on appropriation of funds. As for a takeover, its still way to early to tell where this investigation will end.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. How does this fall under FBI jurisdiction? I'm not objecting, just curious...

The feds have very specific rules about how funds are spent for special education students. We're hearing they're very curious about that right now and whether grade inflation affected those students.

http://wjla.com/features/faking-the-grade/faking-the-grade-fbi-now-investigating-dcs-ballou-high-school

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now investigating alleged grade inflation at one DC high school, multiple sources close to the investigation revealed to the ABC7 I-Team.
The I-Team learned an FBI special agent is meeting and interviewing current and former teachers of Ballou High School. The FBI is joined in these meetings with investigators from the US Department of Education and the DC Office of Inspector General. Sources tell the I-Team these teacher interviews began in December.

Sources add the topics of the investigation include allegations that teachers were pressured to change grades to pass students, allegations that administrators altered grades or attendance records, and whether students receiving special federal funding had grades or attendance records altered.
The I-Team has not heard of any other DC Public Schools involved in the FBI investigation. The FBI and DCPS declined to comment.
DC Public Schools also confirmed that Ballou High assistant principal Shamele Straughter is on administrative leave and is no longer reporting to work at the high school.

DC Public & Charter School Parents:

I'm a reporter for ABC7 News, WJLA-TV. I'm looking to hear from parents about their questions, comments and concerns about their children's education. I'm planning on holding a roundtable discussion this Thursday, January 18th in the evening. I'm still finding a location, but am very open to suggestions other than our station in Rosslyn.

It would not be live on TV. We'd video record the conversations for use in a future segment on ABC7 News. I want to see if there are concerns that aren't being addressed by DC Public and Charter Schools at all grade levels and all DC neighborhoods.

I'm the reporter that just reported on CHEC having similar problems as Ballou and I'm researching documents showing even more widespread grade inflation allegations.

Please email me at ndbaca@sbgtv.com if you are interested or if you have any questions.

Anonymous wrote:Bets on which school is next to have this “breaking news”? Dunbar would be my best guess.

I'm hearing the same. I'll report on any documents I get in the future.

Anonymous wrote:Are there not truancy laws? Why aren’t kids and their parents reported after the max number of absences?

There are truancy laws. DC Code states after around 15 unexcused absences -- I don't have the exact number in front of me -- kids and their families are supposed to be referred to child protective services and the Attorney General's Office for scrutiny. We have records that indicate that rarely happens, despite students racking up those numbers of unexcused absences.

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't they fake attendance? Why aren't kids kicked out of the school when they have so many unexcused absences? I can see plenty of parents walking them right back in the next day.

DCPS policy states after 10 absences a class, they get a "failure from absence" grade. 30 unexcused absences in a year nets a final failing grade. But those records are not cross-checked with transcipts to see if those policies are being violated. The Chancellor says that changed after the story broke and is in effect this school year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these keep making news during college application season, do you think it will affect the acceptances for students at these schools? What about other DCPS high schools?

The students' transcripts are sent to the college with the application. The colleges will see exactly what the reporters saw. So no, a student with good grades, matching SAT and AP scores, and a transcript that does not show months of unexcused absences will not be tarnished by this.

I'm not certain that attendance reports are sent along with transcripts. Those are two different documents. It's up to the school to cross-check the two, not the colleges.

I'm the reporter that wrote this story on CHEC. I'll try to answer any questions I can about what the records show or the interviews we aired.