Bennett Steps Down, Calls For Investigation

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Indiana's former superintendent of public instruction has stepped down as Florida's education commissioner. Tony Bennett is denying accusations of improperly raising the grade of a charter school run by a Republican donor. He says he will request an investigation by the state of Indiana with hopes of putting “this issue to rest.” Emails, first made public in an investigation by the Associated Press, suggested Bennett discussed boosting an Indianapolis charter school's performance grade. He says the action was the result of a “statistical anomaly” that did not allow 13 schools to have their grades truly reflect performance. Bennett says those schools were “unfairly penalized.”

Bennett was defeated in last year's election by Democrat Glenda Ritz. He was hired by the state of Florida in December. Bennett has also served as the superintendent of Greater Clark County Schools and an assistant superintendent at New Albany Floyd County Schools.

Source: Inside INdiana Business, Florida Department of Education