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April 15, 2015

Former Educators Sentenced for Atlanta School Cheating Scandal 
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Former educators in Atlanta, Georgia, have been given prison sentences
of up to seven years for their roles in a massive cheating scandal at
public schools. Prosecutors say teachers were forced to modify incorrect
answers, and students were even allowed to fix their responses during
exams. Twenty-one other defendants avoided trial with plea deals, but
the nine sentenced to jail rejected sentencing agreements so they can
appeal. It is said to be one of the largest school cheating scandals in
U.S. history. Donald Bullock, an educator who reached a plea deal,
apologized for his role.

Donald Bullock: "I, Donald Bullock, do hereby sincerely apologize to the
students, my fellow staff members, parents and the Atlanta Public School
System, as well as the greater metropolitan Atlanta community, for my
involvement in the 2009 CRC Administration, resulting in cheating or
other dysfunctional acts."

The case has fueled new scrutiny of the education system's reliance on
standardized testing, which critics say incentivizes cheating. According
to The New York Times, "cheating has grown at school districts around
the country as standardized testing has become a primary means of
evaluating teachers, principals and schools."

 

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