HOUSTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A former computer specialist with the Houston Independent School District has been indicted on a charge of tampering with a government computer record.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Kenneth Cuadra allegedly changed the number of dropouts at Sharpstown High School, where he worked, from 30 to none.
Cuadra is the only person so far to face a criminal charge in a scandal over Houston's reporting of dropouts. The district was acclaimed by President Bush, who appointed Superintendent Rod Paige as his secretary of education, before questions were raised about the district's numbers.
Texas has since switched to using graduation rates to evaluate schools.
Sharpstown's principal and three of her deputies were disciplined for their part in misreporting of dropout numbers. One later sued the school district and won a $90,000 settlement.
