Reply to PG County School Fake Graduation rates

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[quote=Anonymous]file:///home/chronos/u-221110729a95688dc1d9fa9eb3f5c631438c8d60/Downloads/MSDE_ED%20letters%20(1).pdf

In case you can't download the letter here is the text:

January 30, 2017
Mr. Patrick Rooney
Deputy Director
Office of State Support
United States Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202

Dear Mr. Rooney:

This letter is In reference to a hotline complaint received by your office regarding allegations against
Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS). In a letter received in early July, you indicated to State
Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon, that you were in receipt of a complaint alleging the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of PGCPS had forced educators to change the grades of ninth and twelfth grade students in
order to boost promotion and graduation rates.

You provided Dr. Salmon with a copy of the complaint and asked that she investigate the allegation and
let USDE know what was found, the actions that were taken, and the pending or finalized outcome of
the Investigation. [b]The complaint regarding PGCPS was not signed and It was not possible to talk with
the Individual who had made it.[/b] I believe it would have been helpful to clarify that person's concerns or
set more information that was specific to the situations noted. It was also not possible to get back to
that individual to communicate findings.

Following receipt of your letter, Or. Salmon did contact the PGCPS CEO, Dr. Kevin Maxwell, to make him
aware of the allegation and to gather information from him regarding those allegations. Or. Maxwell
shared with Dr. Salmon the focus he had set when he became CEO of PGCPS in 2012. His goal was to
improve academic achievement, reduce the dropout rate and improve the graduation rate. His
initiatives were focused on keeping students in school and actively engaged in learning. He would have
expected the rate would have increased in his schools and he was pleased it was doing so. He was
adamant that no one had been forced to change anv grades nor adjust anything on student transcripts.
[b]He did note that the grading policy had been revised recently and that not all people were supportive of
It[/b]. He thought perhaps that and some of the lnltlatives targeted at keeping students in school could
have driven the individual to write. [b]Since the letter was anonymous and the PGCPS CEO had adequately
addressed the State Superintendent's concerns, nothing further was done.[/b]

In December a staff person in our Department received a call from your office asking the status of the
investigation. Our principle attorney advised that we do a more formal investigation of the complaint
and put something in writing to your office. The State Superintendent asked that I handle the
investigation of the incident. As the new Chief Academic Officer, I had no previous knowledge of the
discussion with the PGCPS CEO and I reached out to him in early December and requested to meet with
him. I explained that I would be investigating the complaint against him regarding changing grades to 
improve promotion and graduation rates. It was agreed that he would come to my office on December
12, 2016. Prior to him coming I looked at the graduation data for his county for the past five years and
for the two high schools mentioned in the letter. My conversation with Dr. Maxwell focused on why his
data was improving, although slowly.

When we met, he described the lack of supports for students
when he had assumed the CEO position in PGCPS in 2012. He was dismayed with the lack of
understanding staff had regarding cohorts and how supports had to start as students entered high
school- or before - if graduation rates were to increase.[b] He described the credit recovery system his
team set up for students, the ninth grade initiative they put in place, and the system-wide training done
using Data Wise.[/b] He also noted the change in the grading policy and how teachers and parents had been
Involved in its revision. Although all stakeholder groups were involved In changing that policy, [b]he said
that not everyone was happy with the new philosophy and procedures. He also said he knew of no
specific reason the two individual schools had been mentioned.[/b] At the conclusion of our meeting I
asked him to identify others with whom I could talk. I asked to talk with the principals' supervisors for
the two high schools, with someone involved in grade collection on transcripts, with someone
responsible for school counselors, etc. Because of the fast-approaching holidays we set up Interview
times to occur in early January.

On January 9, 2017, I traveled to PGCPS and spent several hours interviewing five Individuals. I spent 30
to 45 minutes each with an Instructional Director, a Data Management and Strategy Analyst, a Special
Project Officer, a Deputy Superintendent, and the Chief Executive Officer. The same Information was
asked of each Individual and discussions were thorough, Each Individual was asked the following basic
questions as well as many others that resulted from their responses:

1. What process Is used for grading students? Who is responsible for putting grades on report
cards? Are grades ever changed? Under what circumstances can that occur? Has there ever
been pressure from a supervisor or from the superintendent about changing a grade or not
giving a particular grade? Have you heard of any concerns coming from either of these high
schools? From any other schools?

2. Has the message ever been sent from the CEO that no ninth grader or senior can fall? Do you
think students should be allowed to fail? Why or why not?

3. Do schools provide work packets or allow for online learning? If yes, under what conditions? If
yes, has It helped? Have you seen any problems arise due to the use of work packets? If so,
please describe them.

4. Describe the credit recovery program. Has It been well-accepted? Is it worthwhile? ls onllne
learning a valuable toot? If so, how? How do you see It being used?

5. Was training provided on the new grading system? Are there supports available to staffi'

6. Has your school had an increase in graduation/promotion rates? To what do you attribute those
Increases?

Each of the persons with whom I spoke was very proud of the work being done in the school system.
They felt they had good direction under this superintendent and that from the day he had come in the
school system he had said they were going to focus on Improving graduation rates and keeping students
in school,

Several of the individuals focused much of their discussion on the credit recovery program and how
successful it was. There was also corroboration among those interviewed that work packets had helped 
many students keep their grades up. The packets had been revised several years ago and were aligned
with the Instructional program. They were also consistent across all schools, Prior to the last several
years there was inconsistency In how they were utilized.

According to several of the individuals interviewed, there had been much training about cohorts and
how graduation rates were computed. There was a data system established to track students' grades
and to provide teachers and schools with up-to-date information about students' performance. They
have established an Early Warning System so schools can intervene early when students are beginning
to have trouble.

None of the individuals recalled any situations for which there had been complaints that grades had
been changed nor had they ever heard Dr. Maxwell indicate that anyone had to change grades. There
was some discussion of the new reporting system and the fact that not every teacher was In support of
some of the requirements of that revised system.

Following approximately two and one-half hours of discussion, I again spoke with Or. Maxwell. I shared
what his staff had said and looked at his data for his county and for the two high schools. He noted how
pleased he was with the growth his students were making and discussed several of the programs he felt
had led to that Improvement.

After reflecting on the data, the concerns in the letter, the responses of the Individuals I interviewed and
the conversation with the CEO, it Is my belief that there was not anything done to Indicate grades had
been manipulated nor that bullying had been used to ensure more students were being promoted or
graduated.

If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at carol.wlllam~on@maryland.go~
or by phone at (410) 767-3646. I will be happy to assist you.

Respectfully,
Carol A. Williamson, Ed.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Office of the Deputy for Teaching and Leaming [/quote]

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