New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. issued the following statement today concerning reports that P.S. 147 in Cambria Heights, Queens has inflated grades for some students:

Reports about the situation at P.S. 147 in Queens are very alarming, but, regrettably, not surprising.

Under the management of Chancellor Joel Klein and Mayor Bloomberg, the Department of Education has created an environment that encourages grade tampering and social promotion. When a school’s rating and funding are solely contingent upon short-term, bottom-line results, it makes sense that principals and teachers would feel pressure to inappropriately advance students.

Furthermore, given the fact that the Department’s budget has increased so dramatically in the recent past, it is unconscionable that some schools do not have the means to fund summer school. It is vital that we afford students every opportunity to succeed, and summer school provides a second chance for many City students to master skills and knowledge needed to advance to the next level of learning.

In July, Thompson released two scathing audits of the Department of Education – one regarding test scores and another discussing the calculation of high school graduation rates. To read about the audits and other education reports, visit www.comptroller.nyc.gov.

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