BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEMO To: Jeremy Grant-Skinner, Chief Human Capital Officer Jerome Jones; Director, Labor Relations & Negotiations Mary Ellen Quinn Johnson; Manager, Labor Relations From: Richard E. Mitchell, Staff Investigator Date: October 20, 2017 oT ‘Attached is the investigative report referencing an allegation made against Pe The allegation was tade:anonymously.. Itis alleged that during SY 16/17 while assigned as a Principal a ee ‘grades changed for some 12" Grade students from feiling grades to passing grades, to ensure those students graduated, in violation of Baltimore City Public Schools system policies and/or regulations, Asa result of the allegation an extensive investigation was conducted that included interviews with Teachers and the Guidance Counselor assigned tol, and Baltimore City Public Schools Central Office staff from the Office of College and Career Readiness and the Office of Achievement and Accountability. ‘The allegation of misconduct gg2inst AAR is unsubstentiated. Review by: Ane Giens Tammy = 200 Hast North Avenue + Baltimore, Marylonc”? $39. visituson the web at wwwbaltimorecityschools.org“BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT Name: Anonymous (Complainant) Case 349-077 [Acoused), Position: Unknown “Allegation: Miscondact Principal Investigator: Richard i, Mitchell ‘School Initiated by: Labor Relations Date Initiated: July 31, 2017 ALLEGATION: During SY 16/17 while assigned as a Principal to) rrarigeeseemmenrerar rau andiorhad Reowledge of grades changed F some fe students from failing grades to passing grades, to ensure those students graduated, in violetion of Baltimore City Public Schools system policies and/or regulations. (GROUND: During July 2017 REE had received multiple inquiries from Chris Papst, a reporter for Fox 45 News i re, regarding anonymous allegations made by four separate teachers assigned a ‘during SY 16/17 MIME had the grades changed for all 44 graduating 12" Graders to ensure all students enrolled in the 12 Grade during SY 16/17 passed.! The anonymous allegers indicated that emails were sent tof! about concerns around the grade changes, but she elected to ignore those emails and proceed with the grade changes to enable failing students to pass the 12" Grade and subsequently graduate from during SY 16/17.? In addition, ‘those anonymous allegers indicated that Maryland State required test results were also changed for students that failed to meet the requirements for passing those State mandated tests? " After review of grade changes made from feiling to passing grades that enabled a student to pass the 12 Grade during SY. 16/17 only six students were identified as having grade changes made that enabled him or hor to pass the 12" Grade and graduate during SY 16/17. 2 Staff Investigator Mitchell reviewed those emails and found that Anonymoas 1 sont two emails to ‘One alleged a concom vith how three studeuts were ablo (o pass Spanish If and the second ed a concern with Anonymous not being properly compensated for teaching Twilight er of the emails stated or indicated e knowledge that grades had been changed. inappropriately. 2 "The Maryland State required tests include the High School Assessment (HSA) end the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARC). Pace #907 c: 340BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT ae _ L ‘The following individuals were interviewed and/or provided a written statement during the investigative process:* |- Guidance Counselor |- Teacher Functional Analyst It - Principal J- Teacher DISCUSSION: . stated that the 12 Grade students enrolled in her courses that had grades (ged from a failing grade to a passing grade, “Were done with my knowledge and approval based on extra work given to them by me.” © MRE stated that at no time were there “...any discussions wit ‘about changing student grades to ensure they graduated in SY 16/17.” # BIBER stated the only students whom she had a concern about passing after receiving failing grades “...were two 10" Grade students who failed English I ‘with a ‘F,' but then met with the Guidance Counselor EAM and then they ‘went into Baglish II after receiving a ‘D” for English I. l asked about that change > me that District policy states that if'a grade is 58% or 59% it She told me that if truly wanted to fail a student make the grade a 57% ole . Sa regarding the process for changing a student’s grades “.,.for the graduation/certification process the Office of Achievement & Accountability (QAA) does not actually validate the grade change requests, but the reason for the schoo] not entering the grades as required within the entering period.” . acknowledged that there was an issue with grades being entered at *,..because the Secretary had a family issue that prevented her froma being able to enter the grades when required. Duc to that family issue 1 accepted it as a valid reason for the school missing the deadline for entering. “Other than Anonymous 1 the teacher sted as Witnesses were those teachers identified ax having grades changed for students rm passing ig fling which allowed these stidents to graduate during SY 16/17. Onc other Teacher ‘vas aso identified, However, immediately atthe end of SY 1617 fenton Teeve and is curently ut ofthe Country. This fncvicual ised as Anonymous #1 agreed tobe Interviewed and provde a written statement under the condition of anonymity The BCES Policy ceecred to by_MMMMHoes ot state wo round a grde to 60% ifthe orignal aade is 258% or 59%. However, prior investigations and Witnesses in thls aftr confirm such an unwritten practice occurs within the Baltimore Cty Public Schools systan. Pape? 07 C: 341Prades and Tce AM ais based on the Principal's request.” . stated, “The actual changes to grades, ftom failing to passing, ‘would b¢ a function of Career & College Readiness (CCR) to decide if the change is valid. So, that department and/or Rudy Ruiz would be the person to ask if that ocurred ot not.”? © BRIBES stated, regarding the HSA and/or PARC tests, “The requirements Were to just take the test in Algebra and English. Biology and Government assessments require an actual passing grade. Either in passing the test during one taking of the test, or with a cumulative grade over the four years a student would ‘be in High School, All of the requirements for those tests are established by. MSDEF and not by Baltimore City Schools.” © BRIE 10s asked about the process for the validation of grade changes made for students during SY 16/17. + RBBB sisted, “Depending on when the grade would be changed there are three scenarios. For K-12 students prior to the end of the school year period the schools would change their own grades inthe system, During the 4% Quarter there is @ window of time for entering grades for K-11, and if a grade needs to be changed after that window closes an Administrator is required to fill out the Historical Grade Change Request Form with an explanation for the grade . continued, “Finally, just for Seniors, after the posting window closes ‘there was no requirement to fill out the grade change form, The only thing required would be an email ftom an Administrator to our office (CCR) which we ‘would then refer to OAA for approval, and then once OAA approved the request ‘we would make the change in the system solely based on the Administrator's original request? Due to the volume of graduating Seniors there was not any additional sorutiny of the grade change requests. Basically, if an Administrator asked for it, it got done.” «© BRBRRSEER stated, regarding the changes to students grades made under her User Name in the BCPS grading system, “Students with an incomplete (INC) either were due to a system error where the Teacher later corrected the grade by acknowledging the passing work that had been done by the student, or there were students that were dual enrolled with either BCCC or UB where we did not yet 7 As of August 3 [, 2017 Mr. Ruiz resigned from the Baltimore City Public Schools system and has not tnade himself avaiable to Staff Investigator Richard E. Mitchell for an interview. Anenpts to contact Mr. Ruiz wece made via email on August 15, 2017, via phone on August 24, 2017, and via letter on September 11,2017 Maryland State Department of Education ° During 2 review of the emails sent to/or AMM curing SY 16/17 there ace emails for A to OCR requesting grade changes based on addional scores being clcaated and/oc duc to missing ‘entry window because of the absence of J, which CCR sent to OAA for approval and received, tnd CCR then changed the grades as requested. Pana tof 7 c: 342BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT RS eee ee ave the grades from those colleges to input as their grades Tor thelr classes at | =. | . tated that, other than the Spanish class, “All other grade changes were done due to Teachers making the request. Spanish had up to 3-4 different Teachers between Long-Term Substitutes a So, after review of all graded work it was determined that the Student's grades needed to be changed because it had changed once all graded work was calculated.” © RBBB stated that at no time was she forced or threatened to change grates from failing to passing for any student 2 . a: after reviewing emails related to grades being entered and/or a “That was done by ordinary course of business. Nothing was done by threat, coercion, or anything else out of the ordinary,” © BBB stated that requests made to BCPS Central Office personnel “, ..Wwere to have the grade entry ‘window’ reopened because we missed the deadline for entering grades dule to my absence. I am the person who accesses the system and enters grades, and I was out during the grade entry period due to a death in my family. So, during my absence IEEE was in contact with RRR 20: EE s0 that we could get our missing grades into the system.” . Qa that to the best of her knowledge no one else at A shad any concerns with grades being changed, or that any grades changed were done wrong. No Staff came to me to express any concerns, and agaia those few students that had grades changed were done with their Teacher’s knowledge and approval.” + Anonymous #1 stated that he or she had concerns with students “,..not meeting the requirements for passing Spanish I in order to graduate at the end of SY 16/17, St not attend class regularly, and when he did he was ‘under the influence and even cheated on tests.” © Anos #1 stated that he or she raised concerns about Student I 10 “,,,was told to pick my battles. did not address bis behavior, nor the disruptive behaviors of other st for message to ‘pick battles’ was just a verbal conversation between me and her with no one else ie * Anonymous #1 stated, | Jinade a lot of accommodations when it came to student’s work and turning it 1n on time, [fa student didn’t turn an assignment thor wanted oom in (te wanted.” ]would permit them to do what they ® BCC refers to Baltimore City Community Colloge and UB refers to the University of Baltimore. Some 12% Grade students enrolled at ually took required classes, such as English or Math, at BCC or UB to receive both High Schoo! credit and College eredit for those classes. Pann 4-27 : 343BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT * Anonymous #1 stated, “Whenever it was asked how failing grades became passing grades the answer was *...extra work was done,’ However, I'm not sure ‘what ‘extra work’ was done.""! * Anonymous #1 stated, “The closer it got to graduation JEM would make comments during meetings thet the 44 students will graduate and we have to make sure we do everything (o make sure that happens. A he Guidance Conse a the Secretary, and other Teachers were in those meetings whe st em + RRRRBI st teci that students enrolied in her class that received a grade change, “Were done because | entered zeros for work and sych because although they: ‘were on my roster they did not attend my class because they actually were taking that class either at BCCC or UB. It was my understanding that their BCCC or UB grades would be the final grade entered ai{§QQNMMMINNMMfor the student’s Math class.” © BBY stated that at no time was she, or to the best of her knowledgo any of her coworkers, “...forced or directed to change a student's grade from a fe score to a passing Score. In my opinion, regardless of what is being portrayed on the news, there were no students that graduated that J thought should not have graduated.” © BREE stated, “The two students of mine that were listed as potential 12" Grade failures, | gave them additional work to help bring their grades up_ and I had conferences with theit Parents about the importance of completing and passing the additional work.” © ERBSERBBERD stated, “Some students that had incompletes or had failing grades entered based on Teachers’ inputting zeroes for assignments were done mistakenly because those students actually attended BCC or UB for those classes and whatever grade. i received at BCCC or UB was their actual grade entered for the class at Fa . stated, regarding the portion of the allegation rolated to students not ‘eaming passing grades in Spenish and/ot Foundations of Technology, “That Long-Term Substitute Teacher had issues with those classes and how she was actually providing instruction to the students. I also know there was some concer about her being paid for teaching Twilight School and I’m not sure if her. ‘actions in her regular elasses had anything to do with thet.” © BRB sated, “Students who had grade changes from failing to passing, ‘that did not attend BCCC or UB, were done based on additional work given to "A request was made by Staff Investigator Richard E. Mitchel to roview hardeopies of 4 Quarter exams andior extra ccedit work for students enrolled in NEEM '© determine what grades were scored on paper versus final grades given to a student. However, there is no retention policy et the school level requiring hardcopies of exarns/werk be kept once grades are entered into the infinite Campus system. “Therefore, no hardcoples of exems/verk from SY 16/17 exists for review for any student enrolled in : provided documentation from BCC and/or UB validating grades received at those schools tobe used by grades foc required classes during students’ 128 Grade yest. Pann © ~67 C: 344BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT ‘students by their Teacher or students were referred to SST for additional ser and work towards raising their grades." © RBBB stated, regarding the portion of the allegation referring to Maryland ‘State required test resuits, “The results from the high school assessments required for graduation are delivered to OAA from MSDE after each testing window. The results are then loaded into the student information system (Infinite Campus)” © BRIM sted, “Within Infinite Campus there is an algorithm for flagging ‘Whether the student has met or not met that particular high school assessment per MSDE benchmarks. The output of that algorithm is showm in the student's Infinite Campus profile; the graduation status report; and then is represented in the student’s transcript, Principals are not able to edit a student's score or flag.” © BRBBBIMG stated, “The grade changes made in the system by me and/or ‘were done so at the request ofthe Principal and only wal from OAA to go ahead and enter the requested grade after we received ay changes —e (OAA is the one wit gave us the approval.” ‘¢ An initial request, via letter, for an interview with] was sent to her and her Attorney Roland Brown on September 13, 2017. On September 28, 2017 a second request, via letter, for an interview was sent ciao Attorney Brown requestin to schedule her interview. On October 16,2017 at 11:13 AM a final attempt, via email, was made to schedule] interview. © On October 16, 2017 at 1:29 PM Attomey Roland Brown contacted Staff Investigator Richard E. Mitchell via telephone and advised Staff investigator Mitchell that after discussions ‘vith Rn has elected to not be interviewed by anyone from the Baltimore City Public Schools system and that she does not elect to provide a response to the allegation against her, + Attorney Brown further acknowledged understanding that the Baltimore Ci Public Schools system's investigation into the allegation a bbo concluded without her input or response, EINDINGS: Based on the available witness statements of this incident, the allegation of misconduct against| is unsubstantiated. ‘The decision was based on the following merits: "EERE provided documentation for Staff Investigator Richard E. Mitchell's review for those. students referred to SST and received addtional supports resulting in extra work being given for additonal scoring and credit to raise lower performing academe scores Pane & 0F7 C: 345BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT ‘The allegation of misconduct against AMM is unsubstantiated. RECOMMENDATIONS: Papa? C: 346