DALLAS — News 8 has learned an internal investigation into allegations of TAKS test cheating at a high school is in progress at the Dallas Independent School District.
Sources told News 8 the cheating allegations involve senior football players in at least one classroom in which the TAKS tests were filled out for them.
If true, it would constitute a major violation of testing rules, which is why DISD's Office of Professional Responsibility has been assigned to investigate.
The incident allegedly took place in late October at Pinkston High School in West Dallas.
Sources said the football players in question were taking a retest of the math TAKS test, which is required of all seniors to graduate.
In at least one testing class, sources said, the TAKS test was administered by one of the assistant coaches of the Pinkston varsity football team.
Sources said seven football players in the class were all quietly told to leave their tests blank and that the tests would be filled out later and the players would be awarded passing grades.
The alleged scheme fell apart when one of the football player's test was never filled out. News 8 has confirmed that student missed all of the answers and scored a zero on his test. When it came to the attention of the student and his family, they reported the incident to campus officials.
After the allegations arose, the coach who allegedly administered the test called the Alliance of Dallas Educators to seek assistance.
"Based upon his conversation and his tone that he wanted to talk about issues that were bothering him and disturbing him," said Jeff Sherels, Alliance/AFT spokesman.
District officials said the allegations were brought to their attention last week and school principal Norma Villegas is cooperating with the investigation.
DISD officials said the principal notified them a few days ago and that the investigation is already under way and could have criminal implications.
"Something like this would seem to be very obvious and something that we would be able to find out fairly quickly, not only by just looking at and interviewing some of the students that may have had knowledge of this but by talking with TEA, getting them involved," said Jon Dahlander, DISD Communications Director.
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
