Schools Closing Due To Cheating Scandal

Los Angeles - A cheating scandal at a group of charter schools now spells the end of those schools, as the Los Angeles School District votes to shut them all down. It's not the students who were cheating here... it was the principals.

Gigi Graciette has the story in the video report.

Story Script:

Crescendo Charter Academy's principal Na'kneetra Capers had nothing to say about the cheating scandal the charter group she works for is involved in, and even less to say after the Los Angeles Unified School Board voted to revoke their license.

Dr. John Deasy, LAUSD Superintendent-Elect
"It's despicable that people would cheat or attempt to misrepresent how well students do. It's shows a lack of faith in students. It's fundamentally despicable."

According to teachers-turned-whistleblowers and a subsequent LAUSD investigation, Crescendo's founder -- John Allen -- ordered principals at their six campuses to have teachers open sealed standardized state tests long before they were to be given. This was so they could teach to the test, hoping to bump up their school's Academic Performance Index score.

Yolie Flores, LAUSD School Board Member
"We will not put up with this."

The state's Department Of Education voided the charter's 2010 API scores, but no one implicated in the cheating was fired.

The charter's founder and principals were suspended, but all are still working at the schools, leading the board to start the lengthy process to shut them down.

Dr. John Deasy, LAUSD Superintendent-Elect
"Individuals who cheat... individuals who authorize cheating... individuals who participate in that... they need to be removed. Fired from the system."