Tulsa Charter School Suspends Employees Over Grade Tampering Allegations

The school board of Langston Hughes Academy has suspended four employees over allegations of grade tampering.

The board President, Carmen Pettie, told News on 6 the Superintendent/Principal, Assistant Principal, Principal’s Secretary, and Special Education Coordinator were suspended after the allegations were made this week. Pettie, on behalf of the board, said, “We are shocked and deeply troubled at these claims but will cooperate fully throughout the investigation.” 

The board notified the State Department of Education, which responded by sending a regional Accreditation Officer to the school Friday. Department Spokesperson Stevie Corcoran said the visit was merely fact-finding, and it was too early to say where their findings might lead.

Langston Hughes is an independent charter school, which is publicly funded, but not associated with Tulsa Public Schools. Langston University is the charter sponsor, but the school is overseen by an independent board.

Langston’s Vice President of External Affairs, Mautra Staley Jones, said, “We are aware of the situation and are working with their oversight board which has jurisdiction over this matter.”

Full statement from Langston Hughes Academy Board of Education:

STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS:

We, the Langston Hughes Academy for Arts & Technology Board of Education, were notified this week of allegations that our Superintendent/Principal, Assistant Principal, Principals Secretary and Special Education Coordinator changed or directed teachers to change students’ grades. Upon receiving this information, we immediately notified the State Department of Education and will be working closely with them to address the matter. In the best interest of our school and students and pending results of the investigation, we have taken action to immediately suspend the Superintendent/Principal, Assistant Principal, Principal’s Secretary and Special Education Coordinator. We are shocked and deeply troubled at these claims but will cooperate fully throughout the investigation. We will provide no further comment at this time.

Langston Hughes Academy for Arts & Technology Board of Education