EPISD Response To ABC-7 Mini-Mester Story

School districts are required to have an accelerated instruction program for students who are at risk of dropping out of school, who are not performing at grade level, or who did not perform satisfactorily on a state assessment. Students who did not earn credit in a course due to low grades may participate in accelerated instruction. Courses for accelerated instruction are scheduled by each school in order to meet the needs of their students. Grades, teacher recommendations and other information on a student?s academic deficiencies are reviewed to determine placement in the appropriate courses for accelerated instruction. To receive course credit, these students must demonstrate mastery of the content of the course.

We already have provided information to federal authorities regarding concerns that ?mini- mesters? may have been improperly conducted in the past. The school district is cooperating fully with the federal agencies regarding their investigations.

We urge any employee with any information about potential past wrongdoing in the District regarding this or similar issues to please come forward and share that information with us or report it to the FBI or the U.S. Department of Education. We have created a special telephone hotline to make it easy for employees to call, even anonymously, with any information that could help in the ongoing investigation.

We urge that any information shared by employees or past employees with you for your report be shared immediately with the District and/or with the FBI or the U.S. Department of Education.

Based upon discussions with the FBI, and in order to avoid any interference with their ongoing investigation, the District is not in a position to comment further on these allegations at this time.

Hotline: www.episd.org or 1-800-620-8591.