ATLANTA — Some members of Atlanta's legislative delegation say a report by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is biased and filled with innuendos.
On Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal met with two-dozen members of Atlanta's delegation at the State Capitol to discuss SACS' recent report and the agency's decision to put the Atlanta Public School system on accreditation probation.
The meeting with Deal was held behind closed doors.
At least two members of Atlanta's delegation were very critical of the SACS report. They question whether SACS has a conflict of interest accrediting and also soliciting business as consultants.
"The report I'm reading is filled with gossip and innuendos and is light on facts and substance," said Rep. Rashad Taylor, D-Atlanta.
"If I was to give a grade on this report that AdvancED issued yesterday, I would give them an F," said Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta. "I think the report is bias."
While they disagree with SACS' position, Taylor and Fort both agree that APS needs to do its best to address the six mandates issued by SACS.
"Parents of children are rightly concerned that they will lose opportunities at scholarships and other kinds of things," said Fort.
A SACS review team concluded the Atlanta Public Schools system violated its "governance and leadership" standard.
All high schools will remain on probation until Sept. 30. A monitoring team will then visit to assess if the district has completed the six required actions, which include using a professional mediator to resolve board disputes.