Politicians and educators across Indiana are calling for an investigation into Indiana's school grading system after the Associated Press reported this week that former Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett tampered with the state's A-F grading formula to favor the Indianapolis charter school founded by a political supporter.
Bennett resigned his job as Florida education commissioner Thursday morning after the Associated Press revealed he had changed the grade of Christel House, a charter school run by major Republican donor Christel DeHaan, while in Indiana.
Bennett again denied wrongdoing but said he didn't want to be a distraction to Florida Gov. Rick Scott's efforts to overhaul the state's education system.
Emails published by the AP this week show that Bennett and his Indiana staff scrambled last fall to ensure Christel House charter school received an A, despite poor 10th-grade algebra scores that initially earned it a C.
Charter schools are public schools that are given more flexibility in hiring teachers and choosing curriculum.
Bennett lost his re-election bid to Democrat Glenda Ritz, a school teacher, last November in Indiana. He was hired by Florida in December.
Republican Gov. Pence urged the Indiana Department of Education to complete a thorough and timely review of the questions surrounding the 2011-12 A-F letter grades and report its findings at the next State Board of Education meeting in August.
“Gov. Pence believes in accountability and that students, parents and teachers deserve to know our state has a fair and impartial grading system that accurately describes the performances of our schools,” said Kara Brooks, press secretary.
The Indiana State Teachers Association called for a "truly independent" investigation into the administration of Indiana's accountability system, including the A-F school grading system, with the goal of making changes determined by education experts that include educators and "common sense." ISTA has 40,000 members in Indiana.
The Indiana chapter of the American Federation of Teachers Thursday called for an immediate suspension of the current A-F grading system. The AFT in Indiana has 6,500 members.
During a press conference Thursday morning in Florida, Bennett, too, said he was going to ask the Indiana Inspector General to investigate the A-F grade issue.
"Frankly, I am fearless about what they will find," he said in a news conference that took about 25 minutes during which he responded to questions from the media.
Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, of Michigan City, today said considering the revelations of the past few days, it is appropriate Bennett step down, but that doesn't "undo" what Bennett did in Indiana the past four years.
“The swath of this scandal is deep and wide. Property values plummet. Businesses relocate. People lose jobs. Kids give up. The investigation and ultimate righting of this wrong must be a priority of all branches of government.
“I know that Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-Fort Wayne) has called for an independent third-party audit of Indiana’s school grading system. I support that call, and urge that it take place as soon as possible," Pelath said.
Bennett used the words "malicious and unfounded" regarding the Associated Press report. He said he stands by what he said and what he did in Indiana.
"Just because I step away from this office doesn't mean I won't be willing to defend what was done in Indiana. I am not afraid to step in the ring," Bennett said.
The former Indiana education chief also alluded to other emails that may "continue to trickle out," saying that Gov. Scott, the board of education and all of Florida doesn't "deserve me having to constantly deal with this while I am being commissioner here."
Adding to the charter-school Bennett's wife Tina was hired earlier this year by Charter Schools USA as a regional director based in Florida. Charter Schools USA, based in Florida, is the company that Bennett tapped to operate schools in Indianapolis the state took over.
Bennett said he had the support of his good friend former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who released a statement Thursday, crediting Bennett with Indiana education reform and making marked improvement on student achievement that will have a lasting impact.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.