Probe finds widespread cheating in Atlanta schools

AP ^ | 7/5/11 | Dorie Turner, Associated Press

[Jean S]

ATLANTA — Educators at nearly four dozen Atlanta elementary and middle schools cheated on standardized tests by either helping students or changing the answers once exams were handed in, according to the results of a yearlong state investigation released Tuesday.

The report said that 178 teachers and principals cheated, though only 82 educators actually confessed to misconduct dating as far back as 2001 and affecting thousands of school children, according to a synopsis handed out by Gov. Nathan Deal's office. More than half of the district's 100 schools were examined, and 44 of those had cheating, the synopsis said.

The investigators also found a "culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation" in the school district over the cheating allegations, which lead to educators lying about the cheating or destroying documents to cover it up, according to the synopsis. School officials had "warnings" as early as 2005 that there was cheating on standardized tests, but those signals "were ignored," according to the synopsis.

Deal would not give out any further details or release the voluminous report because he said it contains "very specific information" about educators. The results of the investigation are being forwarded to prosecutors, and many of the cases could lead to criminal charges, he said.

[Da Coyote]

Unions.

Figures.

Public schools?

Waste.

[AFreeBird]

This is an unexpected and shocking development.

Amish kids was it?

[Iron Munro]

"...teachers and school administrators — particularly those in low-income districts — bow to the pressure of the federal No Child Left Behind requirements and see cheating as the only way to avoid sanctions.

Another facet of Affirmative Action?

[freedumb2003]

>>Amish kids was it?<<

Them radical Mennonites!

[kalee]

I would like to see a list of the schools as I had godchildren who were in school there during this time period.
I will just say that their schools did NOT serve them well.

[Tainan]

“OutCome based Education”...Shoveling out ‘self-esteem’ by the bucket loads.

[RC2]

This could be racist. Break it down by race and clear any questions. Which races cheated?

[EGPWS]

Just think, some day my boss will be my boss because he is a cheat.

Oh, wait a minute, POTUS has been taken by a cheat.

Well, I don't work for the government so....

[blam]

My guess is all the cases will be thrown out because of racial profiling...ahem.

[Oceander]

Those darned Amish kids - and probably the Asian kids, too; after all, everyone “knows” they couldn’t do as well as they do just with studying and doing homework.

[Bob]

Problems have mounted, some experts say, as teachers and school administrators — particularly those in low-income districts — bow to the pressure of the federal No Child Left Behind requirements and see cheating as the only way to avoid sanctions.

I guess it's just too tough to try teaching as a way to avoid sanctions.

[blam]

"Problems have mounted, some experts say, as teachers and school administrators — particularly those in low-income districts — bow to the pressure of the federal No Child Left Behind requirements and see cheating as the only way to avoid sanctions. Under the law, failing schools must offer extra tutoring, allow parents to transfer their children to higher performing schools and fire teachers and administrators who don't pass muster. "

Cheating was the ONLY solution?

[joelt]

FIRE every last person involved in this; OH,,,,,,but wait,,, they were doing it for the children.

[Atlantan]

Beverly Hall was chosen the national Superintendent of the Year in 2009.

More info: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0705/America-s-biggest-teacher-and-principal-cheating-scandal-unfolds-in-Atlanta

[Blood of Tyrants]

The investigators also found a "culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation" in the school district over the cheating allegations, which lead to educators lying about the cheating or destroying documents to cover it up,

Yea, blame it on the pressure from Da Man to actually teach the children.

[popdonnelly]

America is turning into Corruption Land. Yeah, living up to standards is hard.

[DJlaysitup]

Exactly Atlantan...this was all about greed. Hall negotiated herself a VERY nice contract after getting that award (Supe of the Year - nationwide), based almost entirely on widespread cheating. This was apparently going on for a decade and was VERY widespread and bonuses were handed out on down the line. Total corruption.

How many parents wer stunned when their kids’ SAT/ACT scores came in well below what they expected due to what they had been seeing for years on the CRTCs. It was all about money.

They knew they couldn’t make the silk purses out of the sows’ ears so they just cheated. Heck, they got away with it for a decade and if not for some surprising investigative reporting from the AJC, they would have continued to do it for another decade. Pumping out HS graduates with 5th grade reading/math skills.

[FreedomPoster]

And the top administrator, and almost certainly almost all fo those involved.