Schools
An APS Investigation Time Line
A review of recent developments surrounding the Atlanta Public School's cheating scandal and the accreditation crisis.
The Atlanta Public Schools district is in the midst of two major challenges: the CRCT Cheating Investigation and the risk of its Board losing accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
New developments and information are exposed almost daily – so much so that it can be difficult to stay abreast of the latest news. Here is a synopsis of events that have occurred in the past two weeks:
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Feb. 3: The Ethics Commission determined that there was enough evidence to make a formal investigation into complaints against board member Courtney English.
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Feb 9: The Ethics Commission met and determined that two allegations against Board Chairman Khaatim Sherrer El warranted further investigation. Complaints surfaced when Chairman El accepted pro bono public relations services from a company that was simultaneously pursuing a contract with APS.
Feb. 16: The Ethics Commission began investigating ethics violations against English and decided that a final hearing will be held to determine if he is guilty and, if so, what sanctions are warranted. The Ethics Commission will allow an independent officer to conduct the hearing.
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Feb. 14: School Reform Team 4 Director Tamara Cotman was reassigned to the English as A Second Language Department amid allegations that she encourage principals under her supervision to be uncooperative with cheating investigators by instructing them to tell investigators to “go to hell.”
Feb. 16: A taped conference call was released to the media, in which Deputy Superintendent Kathy Augustine blasted state and GBI investigators last fall. Deputy Augustine called the cheating allegations “horrific,” “denigrating,” “disrespectful” and “bizarre.” She also cautioned principals to “protect themselves.”
Feb. 16: State cheating investigators Mike Bowers, Robert Wilson, and Richard Hyde sent APS a memorandum declaring that they are the sole investigators of the cheating scandal, and that APS must immediately “cease and desist” its own investigations, which are hindering state efforts and resulting in witness intimidation.