Florida education chief resigns after fixing charter school grades for GOP donor

Florida Commissioner of Education Tony Bennett resigned on Thursday after he was accused of changing a grading system while serving as Indiana school superintendent so that a Republican donor's charter school would not receive bad marks, according to The Miami Herald.

An Associated Press report earlier this week found that Bennett had quickly overhauled a school grading system after discovering that high-profile charter school Christel House was expected to receive a “C” grade. Under a revised formula, the school was awarded an "A" grade.

Bennett had left Indiana to take the top education job in Florida in January, and Gov. Rick Scott (R) had expressed support as late as Wednesday.

"He is very focused on accountability. He is very focused on making sure we have the number one school system in the country," Scott insisted to WPTV. "Tony Bennett is doing a great job."

Watch this video from WPTV, broadcast July 31, 2013.