Tony Bennett Grading Scandal: New Report Offers Lessons for Other States
A new report commissioned by legislative leaders in Indiana finds that the changes made to the state's grading system, which benefited a charter school run by a political donor to former Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett, were "plausible."
But the report goes on to showcase the problems with implementing a radically new school-rating system by a state department of education that, like many education offices across the country, is struggling with human and technical capacity issues.
Indiana's school-grading system was thrust into the national spotlight after an Associated Press investigation in July found that when he was state chief Bennett, a Republican, made changes to the rating system that benefited a charter school run by Christel DeHaan, a political donor to GOP—and Democratic—candidates.
The controversy caused Bennett to resign from his job as Florida's commissioner of education, a post he accepted after losing his Indiana job last year in that state's general election.
To Bennett and his supporters, the report provides vindication.
"The report clearly shows that accusations of manipulation of the A-F system for a single school are false and malicious. I am pleased with this vindication...," Bennett said in a statement.
State Sen. David Long, a Republican, said in a press conference today in Indianapolis the report shows "nothing nefarious." It's important to note that the Indiana legislature, which
