A state audit shows Clayton County school officials did not intentionally falsify attendance records, but recommends tighter security and better record-keeping.

State officials turned the audit over to school officials and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on Thursday.

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SACS requested the audit after allegations that Clayton school staff altered records to increase student attendance and asked students to stay home on exam days to improve scores, said Jennifer Rippner Buck, executive director of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement.

Poor attendance could affect the Adequately Yearly Progress portion of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Falsified attendance records could resulte in criminal charges and a loss of federal funds, Buck said.

SACS ordered the district to meet nine mandates by Sept. 1 or lose accreditation.

"We checked out those leads from SACS and did not find any evidence that there was an intent to defraud or commit fraud with attendance records," Buck said Thursday.

However, auditors with the Governor's office and PM Investigations, a private computer forensics firm, found inconsistencies in how the school system collects and reports student data. It also found problems with security, limited oversight from school administrators and overwhelmed staff who sometimes made mistakes.

The audit recommends the school board re-examine how it records student withdrawals, attendance and discipline. This will lead to more consistent and accurate data, Buck said.

It's unclear if the district will implement the recommendations. District spokesman Charles White referred calls to board attorney Julie Lewis. Lewis did not return a phone call nor e-mail late Thursday.

Auditors made several unannounced visits to five middle schools and one high school from April until August. They interviewed 29 school employees and reviewed computer hard drives.