New Rochelle Says Online Grades Were Altered Improperly

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — More than 200 grades were changed affecting 32 students at New Rochelle High School, according to an independent investigation into the school's Credit Recovery Program. The New Rochelle board of education accepted the final report from T&M Protection Resources LLC, which was engaged to look into the program.

“We commissioned the investigation immediately upon learning of some questionable grades, and we insisted that the report be complete, thorough and honest,” said Board of Education President Jeffrey Hastie.

In the report, T&M said it found evidence indicating the New Rochelle High School Apex Coordinator, who oversees the Apex Learning online courses which enable students to retake a course they had failed in class, had “entered new student grades and changed existing student grades in violation of the high school’s grade change practice and without any consistent, comprehensible or valid explanation.” T&M also found evidence the coordinator, who was also a house principal, entered more than 200 individual grades for 32 students in 40 courses into the Apex online computer system “without apparent associated student work and changed multiple students’ grades from one numerical score to another.”

These entries were made for both students who had graduated and who were scheduled to graduate in 2018. T&M found 21 students who received diplomas last June would not have received passing grades in their Apex online courses without the numerical grade changes made by the coordinator. Of the 21, two students may not have graduated without these credits. The other 19 students had enough credits to graduate without the Apex credits.

T&M also reported that, prior to the 2017-2018 academic year, “it was the widespread practice at NRHS to inadvertently grant full credit for students in certain units of Apex online coursework without regard to, or review of, the quality of the work.”

The Board of Education said it was advised by Interim Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey that she has initiated the statutorily mandated process to terminate the coordinator’s probationary period. The process requires that written notice be provided to the probationary employee at least 30 calendar days prior to the Board meeting at which the recommendation to terminate will be presented to the Board. That notice has been provided. Accordingly, the Board will consider and act upon the recommendation of the superintendent at its meeting scheduled Jan. 8, 2019.

“We will not tolerate anything that compromises the honesty and integrity of the grading of students in this District,” Parvey said. “Our teachers and administrators are devoted to our students, and one of the most important obligations they have is to give the students the grades they have fairly earned. We will take every measure necessary to see that is done.”

T&M also identified a lack of record retention, procedures for entering new scores or executing grade changes and general understanding of the use of the Apex online learning system.

There was also an absence of supervision of the teachers and administrators who were responsible for enrolling, assisting and grading students who were taking the online courses.

The district did not renew its contract with Apex after last school year and is currently using Edgenuity, according to a spokesman.

Parvey said the district felt Edgenuity cost less and was a more efficient, easier-to-use platform.

The District is also implementing stiffer procedures and oversights as well as additional training for the program. As a result of the T&M investigation, the following processes and procedures will be implemented at New Rochelle High School:

• A handbook/manual for the credit recovery program and independent study has been created in draft form. The handbook details guidelines for all online credit bearing courses and independent study courses including when an online course may be taken and when it must end, as well as where assessments must be administered and proctored.
• Roles and responsibilities for the Online Coordinator are clearly defined.
• Multiple adults will be responsible for the student approval process for an online course.
• The Director of Extended Day/Continuing Education will meet with the NRHS Administrative Cabinet monthly to discuss students and independent study course work.
• Extensive training will be provided for all active users in the new online platform. Booster trainings will be provided to ensure understanding of the program as well as when any changes to the program are made.
• Board policy will be written to reinforce the process for online credit recovery courses and independent study.

The board has decided to send the final report to the New York State Education Department for further investigation and to advise on the process and policy changes proposed for online services.

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Photo credit: NRED.org.