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APS to fire 11 educators named in cheating scandal

Eleven Atlanta educators implicated in a standardized test cheating scandal will soon be officially informed the school system is terminating their employment.

An Atlanta Public Schools spokesman told Channel 2's Tom Regan that Superintendent Erroll Davis is signing charge letters that provide details of infractions that merit termination.
The certified letters list names of potential witnesses that could be called if the educator requests an administrative hearing to challenge the decision.

School spokesman Keith Bromery told Regan the district was able to move forward with the cases after the Fulton County District Attorney's Office agreed to allow APS investigators to view evidence.

Bromery said the 11 charge letters are the first to go out to teacher and administrators now on paid administrative leave. Last week, 60 educators were summoned to APS headquarters and given the option to resign, retire of face termination.

As of Friday afternoon, nine educators have either resigned or retired. In addition to APS, the District Attorney's Office is conducting a criminal investigation into test cheating.

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which licenses teachers, is also investigating cheating allegations and has recommended license suspension and/or revocation against 16 educators.