HISD Cheating Scandal: One School Cleared, Another Under Investigation

Earlier this month, internal HISD auditors confirmed the now-fired principal of Westbury High School ordered failing grades in a reading class to be raised to a B. Jason Catchings is appealing the dismissal. (His attorney told Fox 26 that Catchings was operating under orders from a superior, and then told the Houston Chronicle the changes were intended to be temporary, while the failing grades — given by a long-term sub — were verified).

But Westbury’s not the only Houston public school under the microscope lately for signs of grade inflation. While Reagan High School was recently cleared of wrongdoing by HISD's Office of Internal Audit, on Monday HISD told Fox 26 internal auditors expanded their investigation to include Pershing Middle School.

We talk with Fox 26 News Reporter Greg Groogan about what’s known, and what might be the ensuing fallout from these investigations.

MORE:
Teachers Cheating and The Astros Get a Zero Rating: The Good The Bad & The Ugly of Houston News (Houston Matters, April 11, 2014)
Are High-Stakes Tests Pushing Teachers to Cheat? (Houston Matters, Dec. 5, 2013)