"In light of the state's investigative report and CDE's conclusion regarding serious violations at Beach Court, it is clear that the level and severity of the wrongdoing represent a very serious breach of the high standards of integrity and professionalism we have in DPS," Tom Boasberg, superintendent of Denver Public Schools in a statement, said.
DPS asked the Colorado Department of Education and the Attorney General's office to investigate after administrators noticed statistical anomalies with Colorado Student Assessment Program test results at Beach Court Elementary and another school - Hallett Fundamental Academy.
The principals at both schools were placed on paid-administrative leave for a time during the investigation. Hallett and its principal, Charmaine Keeton, have been cleared by the state investigation.
But one of the glaring factors at Beach Court was the fact that after students left the school their CSAP test scores dropped dramatically.
Wednesday afternoon, parents and students went to Beach Court to hear the news from DPS officials. Many parents refused to believe the principal they say transformed the school was guilty of cheating.
"Whatever the Colorado Department of Education's report put out, it's not direct proof that Mr. Roti sat down and changed thousands of answers. That's what they said, he changed thousands and thousands of answers. That's not possible," Karen Woodson, a concerned guardian, said.
Several parents say the reason their kids are enrolled at Beach Court is because of Frank Roti, and they're convinced it's the reason their student has improved in school.
"They don't consider the emotional and inspirational component a person can bring to a child's academic career. That can really change a student's test score and that's what they don't realize," Woodson said. "There is more to it."
Parents say they will be very vocal over the next few months to try and get Mr. Roti's job back. Woodson says parents will be at the next school board meeting trying to convince members that the district made a big mistake despite the fact that investigators found that there were an unusually-high number of answers erased on the tests and changed to the right answers.
Investigators found that answer sheets were improperly stored in the administrative office instead of secured properly. After interviewing school staff, investigators concluded that all of the testing violations at Beach Court occurred at the "principal level."
Superintendent Boasberg says Roti will have to pay back the $32,000 bonus he received for the high test scores.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)