State opens ethics investigations into 109 teachers, principals named in scandal

ATLANTA -- The state agency that licenses educators formally opened ethics investigations into 109 teachers, principals and other educators named in the Atlanta Public Schools' test cheating scandal.

"We expect another 70 to 90 cases to come in next month. We did not get all the APS cases this month. We have to have individual complaints on each educator," said Gary Walker, executive secretary of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Channel 2's Tom Regan sat in as the commissioners reviewed the complaints against the educators cited in the state investigation of erasures on CRCT tests in Atlanta Public Schools.

Rebecca Micks, assistant state attoey general, gave instructions to commission members and recommended sanctions for those found to committed cheating. The punishment would involve suspending or revoking a teaching or leadership certificate.

"Consider issuing a uniform sanction of two years for a teacher, and revocation for an administrator on up," Micks said.

She recommended a more lenient punishment for those who cooperated with the investigation.

"Twenty-to 90-day suspension," Micks said.

The Professional Standards Commission told Regan they had not received complaints against former schools Superintendent Beverly Hall or other top administrator in the central office.

Some educators could lea their punishment as early as next month and appeal. In all, 178 educators were named in the state's special investigation, which was ordered by former Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The PSC probe is separate from an ongoing criminal investigation by the Fulton County district attoey.