Atlanta Public Schools is facing a costly May 15 deadline. Under state law, APS may have to renew the contracts of 90 tenured teachers named in the test cheating scandal.

They are among 120 teachers now on paid administrative leave.

"If we do not take some sort of action based on evidence, they are automatically renewed for another year. You just cannot non-renew without the evidence," APS spokesman Keith Bromery said.

Bromery told Channel 2's Tom Regan the school system is anxiously awaiting clearance from Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to proceed with administrative action against the teachers and other educators.

Howard is conducting a separate criminal investigation into Criterion-Referenced Competency Test cheating. Most of the evidence in the investigation remains with the district attorney.

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Bromery could not estimate the additional cost incurred by the yearlong contract extension to teachers.

However, he said the new contract may make it more complicated to fire teachers who cheated on tests.

"It's better to get this done before we automatically renew them for another year," Bromery said.

APS is spending $600,000 per month in salaries to teachers and other educators named in the cheating report who are on paid administrative leave.