More APS educators barred from classroom

By Jaime Sarrio

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Five educators accused of cheating in Atlanta Public Schools have lost the license to work in a classroom, a state ethics committee decided Thursday.

The five, whose names were not released, violated ethical guidelines set up by the Professional Standards Commission, which certifies and monitors Georgia educators. Four teachers received two-year suspensions and the license of one test coordinator was revoked.

A total of 16 educators out of about 200 have been sanctioned as a result of the Atlanta school cheating case. Punishments have come slowly because of concerns the work of the PSC would complicate an ongoing criminal investigation.

The PSC hoped to have all cases resolved this month, but stopped work at the request of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, who did not want other agencies to expose evidence critical to a criminal case. Atlanta Public Schools has also halted termination proceedings against teachers at Howard's request.

The range of punishments handed out by the PSC can go from warning to revocation. A revocation will make it tough for an educator to work in a public school in Georgia or another state, as the sanction would show up in a national database searchable by other states.

Educators can appeal the PSC sanctions through a multi-step legal maze that could take years to resolve.

The decision is expected to be finalized later today after an additional vote by PSC members.

Check back to AJC.com for more details.