HOUSTON – The grade-changing scandal in the Houston Independent School District is still percolating.
Thursday evening the HISD board met to discuss the future of Hope Academy in southeast Houston and dozens of school's supporters showed up at the meeting.
An investigation found that 35 of 68 Hope Academy school records had been changed, including grade changes, credit restorations, course deletions and course additions.
The superintendent recommended that the district revoke the school's charter but supporters said the school is a last chance for many students who may be homeless, economically disadvantaged or drop outs to get a high school diplo
"We serve highly at-risk young men and women," said Dr. D.Z. Cofield, Hope Academy Founder. "We're the only school connected with HISD that does that and many of these kids are unwelcome or unwanted back at their home schools for a variety of reasons."
The board eventually decided to table the issue for a week.
Just outside the meeting, the United Urban Alumni Association held a news conference to expose what it calls grade inflation and grade deflation in four HISD schools. They include Davis, Kashmere, Booker T. Washington and North Forest.
The group claims grade deflation is the district's way to retaliate against vocal parents.
"Until HISD admits that they have a systemic problem with grade changing in the district -- I (will) expose grade changing throughout the district until they decided to admit they have a problem," said Gerry Monroe of the UUAA.
The principal at Westbury High School was accused of asking a substitute teacher to change the grades of 26 students from failing to a passing grade of 80 in May. He was later terminated, according to Houston ISD.
An investigation into the school's grades was initiated after the substitute/associate teacher gave the UUAA 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 then shared by UUAA with HISD.
