Oakland Unified to hire investigator to probe grade-fixing allegations
The Oakland Unified School District Thursday announced plans to hire an investigator to look into allegations by two former teachers that grades were changed for courses, including those taught online, to allow students to graduate.
The allegations focus on Castlemont High in East Oakland and its use of a district online credit recovery program that allows students to make up credits for failed courses.
Two teachers filed formal complaints with the district in June and July alleging that a teacher, two counselors and the school’s former principal were involved in falsifying district records, John Sasaki, district spokesman told EdSource. Each of the people named denied any wrongdoing, he said.
In addition to investigating the Castlemont allegations, the district may hire an outside investigator to audit grades for all students who used the credit recovery program over the past five years, Sasaki said. The district has not yet decided which outside investigator to hire and has not yet determined a timeline for that investigation, he added.
The teachers, who were not identified, said the grade changes were made with the knowledge of an administrator and other staff members, Sasaki said. He said the complaints alleged the grades of nine students were changed, but the district CONTINUE READING: Oakland Unified to hire investigator to probe grade-fixing allegations | EdSource
