Educators mull inflated rate for graduation

MADISON – The graduation rate for Alabama students now is under scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.

Alabama State Superintendent of Education Michael Sentance informed the State Board of Education during a work session on Dec. 8. The Inspector General is investigating if the state has reported inaccurately.

“After completing an initial audit, the graduation rate was wrongly reported to the State Board of Education and the people we represent,” Sentance said. Sentance told board members that the auditors found “students were being awarded diplomas without having earned credits for diplomas.”

Sentance called the inaccurate graduation rate a “black eye” for the department.

The graduation rate came under review in March. Federal authorities are questioning the statistics because of the dramatic increase since 2012.

Dr. Ed Nichols, Interim Superintendent of Madison City Schools, has released a statement for the Madison district. “In light of recent reports about graduation rates in Alabama, we have reviewed our data and conclude the numbers in that review to be accurate,” Nichols said.

“The hard work of our administrators, teachers and staff have helped our students grow and be successful. I can unequivocally say that no student at Bob Jones or James Clemens high schools got a diploma without earning the 26 required credits,” Nichols said.

The local district does not determine its graduation rate. “The state assigns that rate per the data they request from individual school systems,” Nichols said. “A diploma awarded in Madison City is a diploma that has been earned. We feel confident we are preparing our students for global success whatever their pursuits.”

Two components were involved in the misstated rate, Mary Scott Hunter said. Hunter represents District 8 (Limestone, Madison, Jackson, DeKalb and Etowah counties) on the state school board.

Counting of the Alabama Occupational Diploma (AOD) was not anchored to the standards required for graduation, Hunter said. “Students who received the AOD could not be counted by the USDE as a graduate in the USDE Four-Year Cohort graduation rate.”

The second factor is “low oversight of local school systems’ awarding of credits. ALSDE did not increase oversight as needed of local school systems’ awarding of earned class credits. In some cases, local school systems misstated student records and awarded class credit, resulting in diplomas that

were not honestly earned,” Hunter said.

“My colleagues and I on the Alabama State Board of Education are as angry and disappointed as all our stakeholders are today,” Hunter said. “Trust has been broken and must be rebuilt. Reporting and monitoring of graduation rates cannot be questioned ever again.”

“The people of Alabama have the right to trust the information their Department of Education releases,” Hunter said. “I will not rest until this matter is fully resolved.”

“Many people who work in classrooms deserve none of the tarnish on this,” Sentance said. “Responsibility for this lies within the department.”