Ohio schools chief: Data changes may spur charges

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s school superintendent says the investigation of changes made to student attendance data in several districts could lead to criminal charges for any educators who commit fraud.

The Columbus Dispatch reports Superintendent Stan Heffner discussed that possibility Wednesday, the same day the Ohio Department of Education announced the Lockland district in suburban Cincinnati filed false attendance data to improve its state report card. The data affect attendance and test-passing rates.

The department is investigating claims that Columbus and Toledo schools also retroactively altered student attendance records to boost district results.

Heffner says if there’s evidence of fraud, he’ll seek simultaneous criminal and civil investigations.

Heffner also said he thinks the data questions and a focus on improving student test scores have created an overemphasis on state report cards for districts.