Associated Press -- May 4, 2005

by Pam Easton

Administrators in Texas' largest school district said Wednesday they

plan to fire six teachers and demote two principals and an assistant

principal after finding evidence of cheating on state tests at four schools.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Abe Saavedra said

three other district employees, including a principal, will receive

formal reprimands.

A Dallas Morning News review of standardized test scores throughout the

state prompted a handful of Texas school districts to investigate test

results at individual schools from recent years.

The Houston district began an internal investigation four months ago

after finding unexplained jumps in scores and statistical irregularities

on standardized tests at 23 schools, Saavedra said.

Two months into the investigation, Saavedra announced the district had

identified two teachers at an elementary school who assisted students on

the state exam. The district has recommended those teachers be fired,

and has demoted the school's principal.

On Wednesday, Saavedra said the investigation was over and confirmed

cheating occurred at another three elementary schools. At those schools,

four teachers have been recommended for firing and a principal and an

assistant principal will be demoted, he said.

At one school, investigators found that four eighth-graders were taken

from their regular classrooms to another room where a math teacher

helped them answer questions. The four answered all of the test

questions the same way — and incorrectly answered the same two questions.

Robert Moore, the district's inspector general who led the review, said

all the teachers and administrators accused have denied wrongdoing.

Chris Tritico, an attorney for one of the principals and two of the

teachers fighting to retain their jobs, claimed investigators picked a

target "and then molded their facts around that target."