Ohio’s state auditor has ridiculed the state education department for allowing some Columbus school administrators to take part of the summer off as punishment for data-rigging.
Responding to a report in The Columbus Dispatch, Dave Yost charged that the department is trying to “clear the deck” rather than consider the damage done to children by the changing of thousands of enrollment records and the erasing of millions of absence records.
The department offered two-year license suspensions, with 22 months waived if the principals agreed to serve 60 days of suspension, a term that could be served during summer break. The administrators also would complete ethics training and community service. At least 33 administrators received the offer.
A spokeswoman issued a statement saying the education department is “in the process of closing out the investigation” and has revoked six licenses and intends to revoke eight more.
