Yost today released the preliminary audit into attendance record-keeping practices at 75 Ohio districts. The investigation follows revelations that several Ohio districts may have withdrawn poorly-performing students, then re-enrolled them.

Doing so keeps their standardized test scores from factoring into district report card ratings, although Yost says today’s report did not deal with why the changes were made.

“In Columbus’ public school district, we looked at ten middle schools. In each of them, we found pervasive evidence of students who had been rolled up to the state, who had a break in enrollment, who was not supported by the documentation,” Yost said.

“Without the documentation, all we have is anyone’s word. This is more than nitpicking about pieces of paper. Without the records, there is no evidence that the actions were properly taken by the government.”

Yost says school districts in Cleveland, Toledo, Marion, and Campbell also showed evidence of scrubbing.

Yost defined scrubbing as the practice of removing students from enrollment without unlawful reason, although he says scrubbing by itself does not guarantee wrong-doing.

The full investigation is expected to extend into next year.