On Thursday, five teachers will be recommended to the HISD Board of Education for non-renewal of employment based on findings that the teachers were involved in testing improprieties on the spring 2013 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) at Jefferson Elementary School. HISD will use the findings of the investigation – conducted by Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom – as the basis of this recommendation. The district has not reached a final determination regarding the 11 additional teachers under investigation and will continue to investigate their conduct on last year’s STAAR administration.

“We take these findings very seriously. It is imperative that we have access to reliable and unbiased test results, as testing helps the district measure the degree to which students are learning,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “We will continue our investigation and the other teachers will remain reassigned until the district is provided a final report and the investigation concludes.”

In November, a total of 16 teachers – including 11 who started the 2013-2014 school year at Jefferson – were reassigned to non-classroom duties during the investigation.