The Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal refers to the accusation that teachers and principals in the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) district cheated on state-administered standardized tests in 2009 and to the subsequent trial in 2014–2015.
In 2009, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published analyses of Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) results which showed statistically unlikely test scores, including extraordinary gains or losses in a single year.[1] An investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) released in July 2011 indicated that 44 out of 56 schools cheated on the 2009 CRCT.[2] One hundred and seventy-eight educators were implicated in correcting answers entered by students.[3] Of these, 35 educators were indicted and all but 12 took plea deals; the remaining 12 went to trial.[4] The size of the scandal has been described as one of the largest in United States education history.[3][5][6]
The scandal thrust the debate over using high-stakes testing to hold educators accountable, mandated by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, into the national spotlight.[7] Teachers who confessed to cheating blamed "inordinate pressure" to meet targets set by the district and said they faced severe consequences such as a negative evaluation or termination if they didn't.[7]
Prior to the scandal, the APS had been lauded for making significant gains in standardized test scores. Between 2002 and 2009, eighth-graders' scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading test jumped 14 points, the highest of any urban area.[6] Superintendent Beverly Hall, who served from 1999 to 2010, was named Superintendent of the Year in 2009.[8] The GBI's report said Hall "knew or should have known" about the scandal.[2] Hall's lawyer has denied she had any knowledge of cheating practices.[6] In 2013, she was indicted in relation to her role in the matter.[9] On September 6, 2013, Tamara Cotman, an Executive Director, represented by Benjamin Davis, was found not guilty of influencing a witness.[10]
Trial
The trial began on September 29, 2014, presided over by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter. It was the longest criminal trial in Georgia history, lasting eight months.[11] The lead prosecutor was Fani Willis.[12] Before the end of the trial, the superintendent at the center of the scandal, Beverly Hall, died of breast cancer, aged 68.[13]
On April 1, 2015, eleven of the twelve defendants were convicted on racketeering charges.[14] Dessa Curb was the only teacher found not guilty on all charges.[15]
Sentences
Donald Bullock, former testing coordinator: Weekends in jail for 6 months, $5,000 fine, 5 years of probation and 1,500 hours of community service.
Sharon Davis-Williams, Tamara Cotman, and Michael Pitts: 20 years in prison, to serve seven, $25,000 fine and 2,000 hours of community service.
Sentences for Cotman, Pitts & Davis-Williams were reduced from 7 to 3 years and fines to $10,000.[4]
Sharon Davis-Williams and Michael Pitts are former school reform team executive directors.
Dana Evans: 5 years in prison, one to serve, and 1,000 hours of community service.
Angela Williamson and Tabeeka Jordan, former Deerwood Academy assistant principal: 5 years in prison, two to serve, $5,000 fine and 1,500 hours of community service.
Diane Buckner-Webb, former Dunbar Elementary teacher: 5 years in prison, one to serve, $1,000 fine, 1,000 hours in community service and first offender treatment.
Theresia Copeland, former Benteen Elementary testing coordinator: 5 years in prison, one to serve, $1,000 fine and 1,000 hours of community service.
Pamela Cleveland, former Dunbar Elementary teacher: 5 years' probation, home confinement for a year from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and community service.
Shani Robinson, former first-grade Dunbar Elementary teacher: one year in prison, 4 years of probation, $1,000 fine, 1,000 hours of community service.[16][17]
Nine of the 11 educators convicted of racketeering appealed. Two of those nine, Tamara Cotman Johnson and Angela Williamson, went directly to the appeals court, lost, and reported for prison in October 2018.[18]
Ryan Coogler will work with Michael B. Jordan for a fourth time in the upcoming film Wrong Answer, based on the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal.[19][20]
Ranked
The Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal was an inspiration for Ranked, a musical about academic pressure in school. Kyle Holmes (book) and David Taylor Gomes (music & lyrics) cite the scandal as one of their main inspirations for a storyline that featured adults cheating on behalf of students.[21] The show opened at Granite Bay High School three weeks after Operation Varsity Blues charges were made public. The timing of the musical's debut in relation to the scandal was serendipitous, and earned the high school national attention.[22]
References
^Vogell, Heather; Perry, John (October 19, 2009). "Are drastic swings in CRCT scores valid?". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ abFlock, Elizabeth (July 11, 2011). "APS (Atlanta public schools) embroiled in cheating scandal". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ abJohnson, Patrik (July 5, 2011). "America's biggest teacher and principal cheating scandal unfolds in Atlanta". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ abEllis, Ralph; Lopez, Elwyn (April 30, 2015). "Judge reduces sentences for 3 educators in Atlanta cheating scandal". cnn.com.
^Resmovits, Joy (July 5, 2011). "Atlanta Public Schools Shaken By Cheating Report". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ abcKoebler, Jason (July 7, 2011). "Educators Implicated in Atlanta Cheating Scandal". U.S. News. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ abSarrio, Jaime (July 10, 2011). "Cheating scandal adds fuel to debate over high-stakes tests". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^Vogell, Heather (November 20, 2010). "Atlanta superintendent Beverly Hall to step down". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^Niesse, Mark (September 6, 2013). "Jury finds Cotman not guilty in first Atlanta cheating trial". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
^Robinson, Shani; Simonton, Anna (2019). None of the Above: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal, Corporate Greed, and the Criminalization of Educators. Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN9780807022207.
^"Fani Willis will become the next Fulton County DA, beating six-term incumbent Paul Howard". 12 August 2020.
^Judd, Alan. "Beverly Hall dies; criminal case — and her legacy — unresolved". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
^"11 Atlanta educators convicted in cheating scandal". USA Today. WXIA-TV. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
^Murphy, Rodney Harris, Adam. . cbs46.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
^Cook, Rhonda (September 1, 2015). "UPDATE: New mother gets prison, former principal jail in APS case". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
^Michel Martin (February 16, 2019). "Former Teacher Blames Education Policymakers For Atlanta Cheating Scandal". NPR News. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
^McCray, Vanessa (Jan 24, 2019). "Judge in APS cheating trial to remain on case as six seek retrial". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
^Dockterman, Eliana (27 November 2015). "Creed Director Ryan Coogler on His Chemistry With Michael B. Jordan". Time. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
^McNary, Dave (7 June 2017). "Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler to Reteam on Education Scandal Movie 'Wrong Answer'". Variety. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
^"Testing the limits - Stage Pick of the Week - Arts&Culture - April 4, 2019". Sacramento News & Review. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
^"A Dystopian High School Musical Foresaw The College Admissions Scandal". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
Educators Cheating on Tests Not New; Doing Something About it Would be, Richard P. Phelps
The Atlanta Scandal: Teaching in “A Culture of Fear, Intimidation and Retaliation”, Erich Martel
Atlanta School Cheating Scandal: The Untold Story of Corporate Greed and Criminalization of Teachers on Democracy Now!
January 14, 2023
atlanta, public, schools, cheating, scandal, refers, accusation, that, teachers, principals, atlanta, public, schools, district, cheated, state, administered, standardized, tests, 2009, subsequent, trial, 2014, 2015, contents, background, trial, popular, cultu. The Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal refers to the accusation that teachers and principals in the Atlanta Public Schools APS district cheated on state administered standardized tests in 2009 and to the subsequent trial in 2014 2015 Contents 1 Background 2 Trial 3 In popular culture 4 Art amp adaptation 4 1 Wrong Answer 4 2 Ranked 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditIn 2009 The Atlanta Journal Constitution published analyses of Criterion Referenced Competency Tests CRCT results which showed statistically unlikely test scores including extraordinary gains or losses in a single year 1 An investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation GBI released in July 2011 indicated that 44 out of 56 schools cheated on the 2009 CRCT 2 One hundred and seventy eight educators were implicated in correcting answers entered by students 3 Of these 35 educators were indicted and all but 12 took plea deals the remaining 12 went to trial 4 The size of the scandal has been described as one of the largest in United States education history 3 5 6 The scandal thrust the debate over using high stakes testing to hold educators accountable mandated by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act into the national spotlight 7 Teachers who confessed to cheating blamed inordinate pressure to meet targets set by the district and said they faced severe consequences such as a negative evaluation or termination if they didn t 7 Prior to the scandal the APS had been lauded for making significant gains in standardized test scores Between 2002 and 2009 eighth graders scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading test jumped 14 points the highest of any urban area 6 Superintendent Beverly Hall who served from 1999 to 2010 was named Superintendent of the Year in 2009 8 The GBI s report said Hall knew or should have known about the scandal 2 Hall s lawyer has denied she had any knowledge of cheating practices 6 In 2013 she was indicted in relation to her role in the matter 9 On September 6 2013 Tamara Cotman an Executive Director represented by Benjamin Davis was found not guilty of influencing a witness 10 Trial EditThe trial began on September 29 2014 presided over by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter It was the longest criminal trial in Georgia history lasting eight months 11 The lead prosecutor was Fani Willis 12 Before the end of the trial the superintendent at the center of the scandal Beverly Hall died of breast cancer aged 68 13 On April 1 2015 eleven of the twelve defendants were convicted on racketeering charges 14 Dessa Curb was the only teacher found not guilty on all charges 15 Sentences Donald Bullock former testing coordinator Weekends in jail for 6 months 5 000 fine 5 years of probation and 1 500 hours of community service Sharon Davis Williams Tamara Cotman and Michael Pitts 20 years in prison to serve seven 25 000 fine and 2 000 hours of community service Sentences for Cotman Pitts amp Davis Williams were reduced from 7 to 3 years and fines to 10 000 4 Sharon Davis Williams and Michael Pitts are former school reform team executive directors Dana Evans 5 years in prison one to serve and 1 000 hours of community service Angela Williamson and Tabeeka Jordan former Deerwood Academy assistant principal 5 years in prison two to serve 5 000 fine and 1 500 hours of community service Diane Buckner Webb former Dunbar Elementary teacher 5 years in prison one to serve 1 000 fine 1 000 hours in community service and first offender treatment Theresia Copeland former Benteen Elementary testing coordinator 5 years in prison one to serve 1 000 fine and 1 000 hours of community service Pamela Cleveland former Dunbar Elementary teacher 5 years probation home confinement for a year from 7 00 p m to 7 00 a m and community service Shani Robinson former first grade Dunbar Elementary teacher one year in prison 4 years of probation 1 000 fine 1 000 hours of community service 16 17 Nine of the 11 educators convicted of racketeering appealed Two of those nine Tamara Cotman Johnson and Angela Williamson went directly to the appeals court lost and reported for prison in October 2018 18 In popular culture EditJon Stewart the then host of The Daily Show compared the cheating scandal to Wall Street scandal Art amp adaptation EditWrong Answer Edit Ryan Coogler will work with Michael B Jordan for a fourth time in the upcoming film Wrong Answer based on the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal 19 20 Ranked Edit The Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal was an inspiration for Ranked a musical about academic pressure in school Kyle Holmes book and David Taylor Gomes music amp lyrics cite the scandal as one of their main inspirations for a storyline that featured adults cheating on behalf of students 21 The show opened at Granite Bay High School three weeks after Operation Varsity Blues charges were made public The timing of the musical s debut in relation to the scandal was serendipitous and earned the high school national attention 22 References Edit Vogell Heather Perry John October 19 2009 Are drastic swings in CRCT scores valid Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved October 13 2011 a b Flock Elizabeth July 11 2011 APS Atlanta public schools embroiled in cheating scandal The Washington Post Retrieved October 13 2011 a b Johnson Patrik July 5 2011 America s biggest teacher and principal cheating scandal unfolds in Atlanta The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved October 13 2011 a b Ellis Ralph Lopez Elwyn April 30 2015 Judge reduces sentences for 3 educators in Atlanta cheating scandal cnn com Resmovits Joy July 5 2011 Atlanta Public Schools Shaken By Cheating Report The Huffington Post Retrieved October 13 2011 a b c Koebler Jason July 7 2011 Educators Implicated in Atlanta Cheating Scandal U S News Retrieved October 13 2011 a b Sarrio Jaime July 10 2011 Cheating scandal adds fuel to debate over high stakes tests The Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved October 13 2011 Vogell Heather November 20 2010 Atlanta superintendent Beverly Hall to step down The Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved October 13 2011 Staff report March 29 2013 Ex APS Superintendent Beverly Hall others indicted WSBTV Niesse Mark September 6 2013 Jury finds Cotman not guilty in first Atlanta cheating trial Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved September 29 2014 Robinson Shani Simonton Anna 2019 None of the Above The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal Corporate Greed and the Criminalization of Educators Boston Beacon Press ISBN 9780807022207 Fani Willis will become the next Fulton County DA beating six term incumbent Paul Howard 12 August 2020 Judd Alan Beverly Hall dies criminal case and her legacy unresolved Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved May 3 2018 11 Atlanta educators convicted in cheating scandal USA Today WXIA TV 1 April 2015 Retrieved 1 April 2015 Murphy Rodney Harris Adam Dessa Curb only educator found not guilty in APS cheating trial cbs46 com Archived from the original on 4 April 2015 Cook Rhonda September 1 2015 UPDATE New mother gets prison former principal jail in APS case The Atlanta Journal Constitution Michel Martin February 16 2019 Former Teacher Blames Education Policymakers For Atlanta Cheating Scandal NPR News Retrieved 17 February 2019 McCray Vanessa Jan 24 2019 Judge in APS cheating trial to remain on case as six seek retrial The Atlanta Journal Constitution Dockterman Eliana 27 November 2015 Creed Director Ryan Coogler on His Chemistry With Michael B Jordan Time Retrieved 13 January 2016 McNary Dave 7 June 2017 Michael B Jordan Ryan Coogler to Reteam on Education Scandal Movie Wrong Answer Variety Retrieved 17 February 2019 Testing the limits Stage Pick of the Week Arts amp Culture April 4 2019 Sacramento News amp Review 3 April 2019 Retrieved 2020 07 14 A Dystopian High School Musical Foresaw The College Admissions Scandal NPR org Retrieved 2020 07 14 External links Edit Cheating Our Children on The Atlanta Journal Constitution Educators Cheating on Tests Not New Doing Something About it Would be Richard P Phelps The Atlanta Scandal Teaching in A Culture of Fear Intimidation and Retaliation Erich Martel Atlanta School Cheating Scandal The Untold Story of Corporate Greed and Criminalization of Teachers on Democracy Now Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal amp oldid 1100012474, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
