Local News

Atlanta schools recognized for cheating safeguards

By Mark Niesse
March 7, 2013

Strict security measures enacted by Atlanta Public Schools have helped restore “a standard of ethics and integrity” to its standardized tests, according to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.

The school district implemented safeguards over testing procedures after a state investigation indicated widespread cheating on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test, which measures knowledge of Georgia curriculum standards.

The precautions include requirements to seal test answer sheets immediately after testing concludes, use video surveillance to monitor the inventory of testing materials, detect anomalous test score gains and audit test administration.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

More Stories