Georgia takes teachers cheating on state tests seriously

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Educators going to jail for Atlanta cheating scandal

The wheels of justice have ground slowly, but they are grinding hard. A massive cheating scandal with Georgia’s school assessments was uncovered quite some time ago, but the court decisions have now finally arrived.

And it is clear that the courts have little tolerance for school people who think it’s OK to cover up bad education by cheating on state testing.

Education Week reports that eight of 11 indicted school staffers are heading to jail.

Initially, 35 educators were indicted in 2013 on charges including racketeering, making false statements and theft. Apparently many settled outside of court, but 12 decided to go to trial. Only one of the 12 was acquitted. One, who is pregnant, will be sentenced after the delivery in late summer.

In handing down the verdicts, Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter said:

"This is not a victimless crime that occurred. These kids were passed on and passed on. The only chance that they had was the school. There are victims in the jail, kids who I have sentenced."

That’s unfortunately very true. There are real consequences for kids when educators cheat on providing a solid education.

The judge might even be under-stating the seriousness of this crime. Here in Kentucky our African-American coalition partners in Louisville sadly remind us that sometimes the lack of an education means even worse than jail for former students. Unable to support themselves, too many kids get sucked into the most hazardous illegal activities. Some don’t survive at all.