US Department Of Education To Investigate Alleged Grades Tampering At Douglass HS

Accusations of grade tampering and falsifying attendance records at a metro high school just a few months ago is now getting the attention of the federal government.

Allegations against the principal of Douglass High School, Brian Staples, prompted the Oklahoma City School District to hire an investigator to look into the claims. Now News 9 is finding out the complaints have also led to a criminal investigation by the United States Department of Education.

"You're not giving them a chance to get an equal education," said former student, Tiffany Thompson.

Thompson graduated from Douglass with honors, but she feels the accusations against the principal only tarnish her achievements.

Some of Thompson's former teachers accuse the principal of creating a system to hide failing students by tampering with grades and altering attendance records. In a lawsuit filed in 2010, the teachers claim they were fired after refusing to manipulate student records.  

Their complaints prompted an investigation by the OKC school district, but the protestors took it a step further, turning over documents to the US Department of Education.

It's more money, the more people we get through the system and passed to the next grade then the more money the administration receives," said Carlos Robinson.

Federal investigators can only confirm the office of inspector general responsible for investigating claims of fraud waste and abuse of education funds is currently looking into the complaints.

Oklahoma City Schools Superintendent Karl Springer tells News 9 the district's investigation is still ongoing and the district is cooperating fully with the department of education.