Audit: HISD principal asked to change 26 failing students' grades to 80

HOUSTON -- HISD says an internal investigation has determined that a high school principal ordered staff to change 26 failing students' grades to 80.

The Office of Internal Audit says all the Westbury High School students were all in a classroom taught by a substitute/associate teacher and that the school principal made the request because he didn't believe "students should be penalized" for not having a certified teacher of record.

In a statement issued late Tuesday afternoon, HISD says:

"HISD takes seriously its responsibility to protect the integrity of the student academic grading process. These findings are now being reviewed by HISD administration to determine the next steps."

The HISD substitute teacher in question told Eyewitness News she refused the directive, which she received in a handwritten note, allegedly initialed by school principal.

The teacher, who asked not to be identified, told us, "When a child comes into class and tells me I don't have to do a thing, because I am going to get an 80, they're telling me they're entitled, and they are not."