The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta's school cheating scandal, one of the largest in U.S. history, has launched a national discussion about whether the increased use of high-stakes tests to rate educators will trigger similar episodes in the years ahead.
Look back at APS scandal »
- Unethical behavior all around
- Report: Vol. 1 | 2 | 3
- Map: Schools flagged
- Hall responds: 'I sincerely apologize'
- APS placed on probation
- APS superintendent to step down
- Cheating conceded | Coverup?
- Search: CRCT probe results
- Probe disparaged | 'Intimidation'
- Inquiry validates AJC analysis
- Drastic swings in scores | Odds
- Probe faces scrutiny | Rocky start
- Atlanta schools soft on cheats?
- Suspicious test scores widespread
Pressure to meet testing targets was a major reason cheating took place in 44 Atlanta schools involving 178 educators, according to a state investigation released last week. The revelations, called "deeply disturbing" by the Obama administration, have tarnished Atlanta's Cinderella story of school reform.
This comes as Georgia and states across the country are working on new strategies to retain, pay and promote teachers and principals based -- in large part -- on how much growth students show on standardized tests. Starting next year in 26 Georgia districts, student test data will count as 50 percent in pilot evaluations of teachers in core subjects such as math and science.
“I am convinced you’ll see more [cheating],” said DeKalb County teacher Laura Pittman, who added she was “sickened” by the scandal. “Anybody whose job is tied to