A million-dollar teacher certification scam linked to questionable test-taking in Houston is being looked at by the TEA. 50 teachers from 21 districts in North Texas are on the list.
DALLAS—The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is looking into the possibility that 50 teachers in North Texas participated in a statewide teacher certification program.
The TEA began the probe last year after observing that several teachers from various regions of the state who had previously failed the exam were now passing it after retaking it in the Houston area.
A list of Texas educators whose certificates were revoked because of questionable test-taking practices in Houston was made public by the TEA. The Dallas and Fort Worth school districts, notably Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD, employ a number of them.
Six employees in all were verified. Robyn Harris, a spokesman for Dallas ISD, stated that the district is completely assisting TEA in their investigation.
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The Texas Education Agency is investigating a statewide teacher certification cheating scandal, including 50 North Texas schools across 21 districts.
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Six Dallas ISD educators are confirmed to be involved in the test-taking scheme.
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Prosecutors charged three Houston ISD educators in the over $1 million scandal, one including a long-time HISD basketball coach who is believed to have pocketed most of the profit.
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The Texas Education Agency is investigating a statewide teacher certification cheating scandal, including 50 North Texas schools across 21 districts.
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Six Dallas ISD educators are confirmed to be involved in the test-taking scheme.
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Prosecutors charged three Houston ISD educators in the over $1 million scandal, one including a long-time HISD basketball coach who is believed to have pocketed most of the profit.
Dallas ISD did not specify if the six confirmed employees would face disciplinary action. Regarding the status of the other three employees who were flagged on the TEA’s list, the district similarly remained silent.
According to Fort Worth ISD, the TEA is collaborating with them on the inquiry.
“The district takes this matter seriously, is cooperating fully with TEA, and will continue to do so to address this issue thoroughly,” the district stated in a statement.
More than 50 schools in 21 districts in North Texas are represented by the highlighted teachers, including:
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Allen ISD: 1
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Arlington ISD: 3
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Cedar Hill ISD: 1
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Crowley ISD: 2
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Dallas ISD: 9
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DeSoto ISD: 1
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Duncanville ISD: 8
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Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD: 1
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Everman ISD: 1
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Fort Worth ISD: 5
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Garland ISD: 1
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Irving ISD: 2
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Lancaster ISD: 2
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Mansfield ISD: 2
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Mesquite ISD: 2
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Mineral Wells ISD: 1
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Palestine ISD: 1
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Princeton ISD: 2
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Red Oak ISD: 1
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Richardson ISD: 2
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Waxahachie ISD: 2
The whole list of educators being investigated consists of:
Alliance AFT, the union that represents about 4,000 educators in Dallas, is led by Rena Honea.
“Our union condemns this unacceptable behavior totally,” she stated. “It’s very frustrating because the fraudulent actions of these few make an end an unnecessary burden for the 99% of our educators that go about getting their certification correctly.”
Prosecutors accused two other Texas instructors and three Houston ISD staff in October of operating a multimillion-dollar teacher certification fraud scam.
According to reports, aspiring educators throughout the state paid someone in Houston to take their certification examinations. After taking the certification exam in Houston, the TEA discovered that individuals who had failed it would pass.
“We know at least 400 tests were taken, and 200 teachers were falsely certified,” wrote Kim Ogg, the district attorney for Harris County.
According to Ogg, the alleged scheme organizer, Vincent Grayson, a longtime basketball coach at Houston ISD, received a large portion of the funds. According to reports, Grayson made $1.09 million.
More than 100 Texas educators being investigated in certification cheating scheme
The identities of over 100 Texas educators who are being investigated for allegedly participating in a fraudulent teacher certification scheme were made public by the Texas Education Agency.
Nicholas Newton, an assistant principal at Houston ISD, is charged with taking exams for prospective teachers in order to get $188,000. Another assistant principal allegedly made around $90,000 by recruiting instructors and charging roughly $1,000 per test. Lookout test proctors made $250 for each test, for a total of almost $125,000.
The three workers of Houston ISD were charged with organized crime, placed on administrative leave, and placed under arrest.
Additionally, Ogg disclosed that two of the fraudulently qualified educators were sexual predators who had access to minors. Whether those teachers were employed by Houston ISD or another Texas school is unknown.
“Let it be known that that is not acceptable, and they don’t need to be a part of the system,” Honea stated.
As the agency gets more evidence, a TEA spokesperson tells FOX 4 she fully expects further investigations to be filed.
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Public officials involved in the cases as well as Dallas and Houston ISD provided information for this piece.
Public officials involved in the cases as well as Dallas and Houston ISD provided information for this piece.
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