Teachers want federal charges filed in HISD grade-changing scandal

HOUSTON – There is a new call for charges to be filed over allegations of HISD administrators changing grades.

Teachers are asking for whistleblower status, saying they want federal charges brought against everyone who is allegedly responsible for a grade-changing scandal among schools in HISD.

Teachers said they were speaking from experience at Pershing Middle School and Westbury High School.  They are no longer educators with the district, but said that during their time there, they were instructed to "fix" failing grades when parents complained about them.

The principal of Westbury High School is accused of asking a substitute teacher to change the grades of 26 students from failing to a passing grade of 80.  An investigation into the school's grades was initiated after the substitute gave the United Urban Alumni Association a class roster of 30 Westbury students, their grades and a handwritten note that reportedly read, "All students grades should be 80 and above. Change grade to 80 if grade is below 80." The note was shared by UUAA with HISD.

The principal was terminated after the investigation began.

Teachers now say they are not afraid to show their faces because they have nothing left to lose.  They say they hope that prosecuting the person responsible will give the students a lot more to gain.

HISD released a statement Tuesday that read, "We take these situations very seriously and thoroughly investigate all allegations. Any investigative report issued as a result of an investigation will be made public upon its completion."