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Toledo
Blade…
Auditor:
Schools should report data manipulation
By Nolan Rosenkrans
State Auditor Dave Yost has asked Ohio school superintendents to
voluntarily report possible attendance data manipulation in their
districts, promising to advocate for those who step forward.
Mr. Yost is investigating the manipulation of attendance data at
schools across the state, prompted by reports of practices in Columbus,
Toledo, and Lockland schools that administrators had withdrawn, then
re-enrolled students who were habitually absent. The practice could
improve test scores and attendance rates on the districts' state report
cards, because only students who are continuously enrolled in a
district are counted on them.
Mr. Yost sent a letter to all superintendents Wednesday, imposing a 4
p.m. Monday deadline for self-reports.
Some schools may have used improper data-reporting practices
inadvertently, the letter states. Coming forward will be seen as an act
of good faith.
"The time to tell the truth is now," Mr. Yost wrote.
The letter states that those who self-report may separate themselves
from those who acted "with fraudulent intent," and Mr. Yost said his
office will act as an advocate for those that do come forward by the
Monday deadline.
Toledo Public Schools voluntarily admitted its past data manipulations
last month to The Blade. Superintendent Jerome Pecko said he began an
investigation into his district's policies after reading reports of
manipulation in Columbus City Schools.
The district has hired an independent investigator, attorney Fritz
Byers, to probe the matter. (Mr. Byers also represents The Blade
newsroom on legal matters.)
Under TPS policy, which started in prior administrations, students who
had least five unexcused absences in a row and 20 total in a school
year were withdrawn in the summer, then immediately re-enrolled.
Read the rest of the article at the Toledo Blade
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