Tell me something I didn't already know...

[dcpony]

Gulf Shores Academy, a Houston high school bball powerhouse is accused of faking grades for its students.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 51928.html

Houston Chronicle
March 26, 2008, 11:07PM
Charter school accused of faking student files
Gulf Shores Academy already in trouble with the state
By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle


Leaders of one of Houston's most troubled charter schools are accused of issuing false high school transcripts to undercover investigators with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Linda Johnson, head of Gulf Shores Academy, and her daughter, Marian Johnson, face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of felony document tampering. Prosecutors say they granted class credits in exchange for $150 and a few hastily completed assignments. They are scheduled to appear in court next month, officials said.

State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, said the campus, which caters to poor African-American students, is being unfairly targeted by the Texas Education Agency. Dutton, a lawyer, has volunteered to represent the charter school.

"We've been fighting for so long for this school, it would be a shame to give up at this point," he said, adding that the Johnsons did not break the law.

The charter is among 211 issued by the state to allow educators to open public, tuition-free schools with more autonomy than a typical public school.


Owes state $8.5 million
Gulf Shores Academy, which opened in 1998, once had more than 1,000 students and a powerhouse basketball program that produced first-round draft pick Gerald Green, who recently was traded to the Houston Rockets.

But the campus has made more headlines for its record of poor academic and financial performance. Among other offenses, the school owed the state nearly $11 million for overreporting student attendance.

The Texas Education Agency has been withholding funding to repay the debt, which now stands at about $8.5 million, officials said.

Despite the repeated missteps, the TEA has been unable to revoke Gulf Shores' charter.

In September 2006, the school became the first in Texas ordered to close mid-year. Just a week later, a Travis County judge granted a restraining order to keep the school open.

In addition to their criminal court date, Gulf Shores leaders are scheduled to appear at a charter revocation hearing in Austin on April 28.

"It's because of material violations of the charter and also academic and financial reasons," TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said.

Because of the pending criminal charges and because the school is suing the state, the agency wouldn't provide specifics about the case.


Registrars complained
Assistant District Attorney Anna Emmons said prosecutors started investigating Gulf Shores after receiving complaints from several area high school registrars. Students who had failed classes would return after just a few days with the credits on transcripts from Gulf Shores, she said.

Two investigators were sent to the school earlier this month posing as parents whose children needed to make up classes. In both cases, Gulf Shores administrators issued credits to the parents for $150 and some class assignments that the parents handed in the next day, Emmons said.

Both investigators received the same packet of assignments — even though they were seeking credit for different classes — and they turned in the same set of sloppy, incomplete answers, she said.

Gulf Shores employees never saw the students or verified their existence, she said.

"Common sense says within 24 hours, you should not be able to receive a semester's credit," Emmons said.

The Johnsons were arrested March 18 and released on $10,000 bonds.

[mustangklick]

I'm not surprised. When I played in high school, I remember seeing posters in the locker rooms and Alief Elsik and Alief Hastings that if a member of the team passed the TAKS or TAAS tests, they would receive like 5 or 10 bonus points on their FINAL grade in that given subject. While this is more of an incentive to study for something you need to graduate, it led me to believe that all of their grades were very inflated.

[abezontar]

I live in Dallas, not Mustang

[MustangIcon]

I'm not surprised. When I played in high school, I remember seeing posters in the locker rooms and Alief Elsik and Alief Hastings that if a member of the team passed the TAKS or TAAS tests, they would receive like 5 or 10 bonus points on their FINAL grade in that given subject. While this is more of an incentive to study for something you need to graduate, it led me to believe that all of their grades were very inflated.

Where did you play in high school- Fort Bend ISD maybe?

[mrydel]

I live in Dallas, not Mustang

So does Kiki live in Mustang?

[abezontar]

no, but a mustang lives in her....hey oh!

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

no, but a mustang lives in her....hey oh!

I hope your career in law goes further than your career in comedy.

[mustangklick]

I'm not surprised. When I played in high school, I remember seeing posters in the locker rooms and Alief Elsik and Alief Hastings that if a member of the team passed the TAKS or TAAS tests, they would receive like 5 or 10 bonus points on their FINAL grade in that given subject. While this is more of an incentive to study for something you need to graduate, it led me to believe that all of their grades were very inflated.

Where did you play in high school- Fort Bend ISD maybe?

I played for Cinco Ranch in Katy ISD, but the Alief schools were part of our athletic district.

[abezontar]

no, but a mustang lives in her....hey oh!

I hope your career in law goes further than your career in comedy.

me too