Allegations of Grade Manipulation in Queens Schools
A recent lawsuit has emerged accusing principals in Queens of altering students’ failing grades to improve their overall scores. The allegations, raised in a federal lawsuit filed in Brooklyn, center around Susan Muzaffar, a 33-year-old English teacher at an information technology high school. She claims that her supervisor changed the grade of a student without her consent and subsequently retaliated against her for reporting these practices.
This situation highlights a broader issue within Long Island City Schools, where there are claims that educators are pressured to pass students who do not deserve it. According to an anonymous high school official, “This opens a huge can of worms.” There’s a feeling that many students who received passing grades were not accurately assessed by their teachers.
Muzaffar has filed a whistleblower complaint with the Special Committee for School Investigation. She alleges that Principal Jean Woods Powell retaliated against her with negative performance evaluations and restricted pay opportunities.
The lawsuit indicates that the School Investigation Committee is looking into the alleged grade fraud. Muzaffar’s attorney mentioned that she reported concerns of administrative misconduct and improper grading practices to both internal and external bodies within the Department of Education.
One specific incident, involving a student referred to as “MH,” exemplifies the alleged manipulation of grades, claiming that changes were made without proper justification. The lawsuit asserts a pattern whereby the school enrolled unqualified students in advanced classes and awarded them passing marks despite inadequate performance.
Over the past decade, various reports have surfaced regarding similar grade fraud and cheating scandals in city high schools. The current system also allows for makeup and credit recovery programs, which are criticized for being too lenient on students who have not met necessary requirements.
According to New York State law, attendance cannot factor into student evaluations. Furthermore, the contract with the United Teachers Union mandates that principals must notify teachers if they alter any grades during a grading period.
Muzaffar, who has been teaching for eight years and is certified to teach English as a second language, plans to give “MH” a failing grade for the AP English Literature class at the end of the upcoming school year. The student has consistently underperformed, yet the lawsuit claims someone altered his grade.
In a frustrating twist, it’s reported that the Vice Principal allegedly instructed “MH” to complete an assignment to pass Muzaffar’s class, yet the student failed again. Muzaffar entered the failing grade into the school’s grading system, but an administrator changed it to a passing one without her knowledge.
When Muzaffar began questioning these changes, she faced discipline, receiving multiple threatening letters and losing leadership roles and additional pay opportunities. Her annual income is reportedly over $85,000.
In her complaint, Muzaffar alleged that the school improperly assigns students and enrolls unprepared individuals in advanced classes. Following her formal complaint, her performance in observed classes was noted as “underdeveloped,” which she contends was a retaliatory move.
Muzaffar faced ongoing retaliation, leading to severe mental distress, including a panic attack that forced her to leave her position. She eventually sought treatment and prescription medication to cope with the psychological toll.
She is now seeking damages, asserting that her First Amendment rights were violated and calling out the school for not upholding public service laws. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Education has stated that they cannot comment on ongoing litigation or investigations.
