Theyre failing. And so it was hard for people to kind of understand what was happening as it dragged out. However, non-profit educational institutions must refrain from partisan political activity. There was nothing routine about a sentencing hearing Tuesday in Atlanta that wrote the final legal chapter of one of the most massive school cheating scandals in the country. Coming amid a political groundswell against academic standards known as the Common Core, the scandal was just one factor in an increasing debate over testing and its role in education. Why was this so interesting to you? WebOf Atlanta, For Atlanta Westminsters first president, Dr. William L. Pressly, founded the School to be of Atlanta and for Atlanta. Our students hail from more than 79 zip codes around metro Atlanta and use the citys vast resources to Its not one of the things I get a kick out of. And so, that prompted the governor to do a statewide investigation. ANNA SIMONTON: I did. I wish more people would take actions like this. Please do your part today. Hudson told the Daily Caller that there are other parents at Westminster looking for legal remedies to the woke curriculum. Upon exiting the elevator, walk down the hall, turn left and proceed to Suite 2075. ", "APS (Atlanta public schools) embroiled in cheating scandal", "America's biggest teacher and principal cheating scandal unfolds in Atlanta", "Judge reduces sentences for 3 educators in Atlanta cheating scandal", "Atlanta Public Schools Shaken By Cheating Report", "Educators Implicated in Atlanta Cheating Scandal", "Cheating scandal adds fuel to debate over high-stakes tests", "Atlanta superintendent Beverly Hall to step down". Examples cited include teachers allegedly denigrating Trump as a candidate, voicing wishes that Trump die from COVID, and assignments that favored Democrats. SHANI ROBINSON: The Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal was a period of time in which educators were accused of changing their students answers from wrong to right on standardized tests. A total of 35 educators, including Superintendent Beverly Hall, were indicted and 21 entered guilty pleas. 
WebIn June 2020, The Westminster Schools, an elite Atlanta K-12 prep school, pledged $5 million from its endowment for anti-racism, leaving parents stunned but garnering few Well talk more about it in a minute. Just as the defendants took a risk by standing trial, Mr. Howard had made a bet of his own when he decided to prosecute educators under a law more frequently used against organized crime figures. I will continue to monitor the response to political indoctrination as it develops in Atlanta private schools, both at Westminster and at the prestigious neighboring Lovett school, which has also been in turmoil in recent months. Prosecutors say teachers were forced to modify incorrect answers and students were even allowed to fix their responses during exams. Once you are parked inside the garage, follow the signs that read Elevators to Building. WebWestminster is a coeducational Christian, independent day school for grades pre-first through 12, committed to creating an educational experience where bright, curious, The gamble paid off for a single defendant, Dessa Curb, a former elementary school teacher who was acquitted on Wednesday. Havent these uninformed parents learned? [15], Nine of the 11 educators convicted of racketeering appealed. And when that came to light, our attorneys asked for a mistrial, but he denied it. The timing of the musical's debut in relation to the scandal was serendipitous, and earned the high school national attention.[22]. And historically, black and white elite have worked together to decrease any racial tension. Many of them took plea agreements, and many of those folks, their plea agreements required them to testify in this trial. Investigators wrote in the report that Dr. Hall and her aides had created a culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation that had permitted cheating at all levels to go unchecked for years.. Sentences for Cotman, Pitts & Davis-Williams were reduced from 7 to 3 years and fines to $10,000. Sharon Davis-Williams and Michael Pitts are former school reform team executive directors. Shani Robinson, former first-grade Dunbar Elementary teacher: one year in prison, 4 years of probation, $1,000 fine, 1,000 hours of community service. (RELATED: Massachusetts Public School District Must End Race-Based Affinity Groups Following Lawsuit). Check out our latest evidence updates, including the first five pages of a taxpayer letter detailing concerns with Westminster's political activities. Anyone can read what you share. [6] In 2013, she was indicted in relation to her role in the matter. Denvers teachers are striking for the first time in a quarter of a century. But a Fulton County grand jury later accused her and 34 other district employees of being complicit in the cheating. WebThe Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal rose to national attention in 2015 when 11 Black educators were convicted of racketeering and conspiracy for allegedly cheating or enabling National Assessment of Educational Progress, "Are drastic swings in CRCT scores valid? The letter also claims the school distributed political cartoons characterizing Trump as the Grinch who stole the 2016 election.. So, Race to the Top was a grant under the Obama administration for states that could show that they were doing some of these education reforms that the federal government was pushingso, expanding charters, increasing high-stakes testingthat they could get federal funding. And there wereat that time, I believe there were aboutit was over aboutthere were about five schools, across five districts. The school displayed these visual art projects publicly both during and after the campaign season. This weekend, Westminster is holding its breath for her conclusion. (RELATED: Arizona Teachers Attended LGBTQ+ Training That Distributed Lesson Plans About Race, Gender For Kindergarteners). Were a boutique criminal defense firm focused on one thing the passionate defense of individuals accused of sex offenses in Georgia. To see our full interview with Maria Ressa, you can go to democracynow.org. Pamela Cleveland, former Dunbar Elementary teacher: 5 years' probation, home confinement for a year from 7:00p.m. to 7:00a.m. and community service. As Debra Wilson, NAIS legal counsel wrote in 2012: Under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office at the federal, state, and local level. The NAIS People of Color Conference, which teachers and staff from Westminster attended, promoted similar anti-Christian values to those Clarkson and Evans espouse. And its very clear if legal action will ensue. There were others that were in the millions. Parents Revolt at Westminster Schools in Atlanta Over Critical Social Justice Political Activism, File IRS Complaint A public letter alleging an NAIS member school violated its tax-exempt status represents a new strategy in Go back to 2013. You can say Trump is a fascist, hes the very Devil, he deserves to die, but you cant say not to vote for him. [2] One hundred and seventy-eight educators were implicated in correcting answers entered by students. Roy Barneswho is hammering out his statewide school reform effortto corporate leaders, college presidents, and parents considering whether to entrust their children to the urban public schools. 
And so, folks are really looking at racial injustice in the education system in a way that I think this case is sort of the epitome of. 
'Everyone is watching her,' wrote the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. WebWestminster is a Christian, independent day school for boys and girls, which seeks to develop the whole person for college and for life through excellent education. SHANI ROBINSON: Mine was one of the lowest. So, there were witnesses who recanted on the stand and said, Actually, I just said what I said in order to get this plea agreement, and I never was under the kind of pressure that Im now supposed to testify against my former colleagues about. So, additionally, witnesses were contradicting each other, to the extent that the judge, Jerry Baxter, said, Perjury is being committed here daily. And yet he didnt strike those testimonies from the record. The boys aunt and a school official accompanied him to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta on October 23rd. So, 11 folks actually went to trial. WebCheating: Atlantas School Scandal. Two teachers just recently went to jail. 
Lewis himself had grown up in a violent neighborhood. SHANI ROBINSON: Well, thats a good question. delivered to your inbox every day? The entrance to the parking garage is on West Peachtree Street immediately adjacent to our building. An Upper School history syllabus stated that the curriculum was unapologetically anti-racist, according to screenshots shared with the Daily Caller. Our curriculum from pre-first through Upper School is designed to meet the demands of Atlantas most curious and motivated minds. I live in ATL. WebThe Westminster School, Atlanta (GA) Basketball Players - RealGM As parents uncovered more evidence of Westminster Schools woke tactics, parents created a website to compile and track their concerns. 
JUAN GONZLEZ: Well, we turn now to the fight for public education, as the teachers strike in Denver heads into its third day. So, he wasyeah, he was just like slamming down the gavel on educators. "Jury finds Cotman not guilty in first Atlanta cheating trial", "Fani Willis will become the next Fulton County DA, beating six-term incumbent Paul Howard", "Beverly Hall dies; criminal case and her legacy unresolved", "11 Atlanta educators convicted in cheating scandal", "Dessa Curb only educator found not guilty in APS cheating trial", "UPDATE: New mother gets prison, former principal jail in APS case", "Former Teacher Blames Education Policymakers For Atlanta Cheating Scandal", "Judge in APS cheating trial to remain on case as six seek retrial", "Creed Director Ryan Coogler on His Chemistry With Michael B. Jordan", "Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler to Reteam on Education Scandal Movie 'Wrong Answer', "Testing the limits - Stage Pick of the Week - Arts&Culture - April 4, 2019", "A Dystopian High School Musical Foresaw The College Admissions Scandal", Educators Cheating on Tests Not New; Doing Something About it Would be, Richard P. Phelps, The Atlanta Scandal: Teaching in A Culture of Fear, Intimidation and Retaliation, Erich Martel, Atlanta School Cheating Scandal: The Untold Story of Corporate Greed and Criminalization of Teachers, Cotton States and International Exposition, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlanta_Public_Schools_cheating_scandal&oldid=1140310092, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. And so, teachers were really put between a rock and a hard place, because here you have a GBI agentand, mind you, there were no attorneys present. Still, that doesnt mean they shouldnt have bothered. Thirty-four of the 35 educators indicted in the scandal were African-American. Sonny Perdue ultimately ordered an investigation. Walk straight out the elevator, through the breezeway, and into the lobby of Regions Plaza. AMY GOODMAN: You both write in the book that Bullock, quote, endured the shame of reading an apology after maintaining his innocence for so long, only for Baxter to slap him with five years of probation, six months of week-end jail, a $5,000 fine, and fifteen hundred hours of community service. Anna Simonton, tell us what happened with the different people involved, from apologies, plea agreements, to, in Shanis case, shes appealing. Senior Feb 8 2021 Overall Experience Black female middle schoolers were encouraged to join the group Melanin Magic, and Hispanic and Latino students were invited to join the group Cafe con Leche. The school also created a white ally club called Students Exploring Equity through Dialogue.. Twenty percent of the schools over the entire state of Georgia were flagged for high erasures. And then he pulls out a prewritten, voluntary statement form, which was basically saying you dont have any knowledge about cheating, you didnt cheat. It was a gamble. She is appealing that conviction. And so, at the same time that Sonny Perdue sends in GBI agents to the schools of Atlanta because he suspects that the 2009 CRCT test scores are fraudulent, hes using those same test scores to say, Hey, look, our test scores are going up. And they did win that $400 million federal grant. I highly doubt the biden IRS will pursue this or even ACKNOWLEDGE its receipt! Our guests are Anna Simonton, independent reporter, editor for Scalawag, also joining us is Shani Robinson. While the Atlanta scandal fueled some criticism, those who oppose testing also argue that the exams force teachers to narrow their lessons and may not represent what students learn. And, you know, that can really stifle your creativity in the classroom. Not directly, but the state can withdraw a business license, which would then invalidate federal 501(c)(3) status. Judge Baxter, who presided over a trial that began with opening statements more than six months ago, will begin sentencing hearings next week. So, what we cant figure out is why teachers in Atlanta were slapped with felony charges. And so, you know, it begs the question: Why were so many black teachers, educators charged? Beverly L. Hall, the former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. SHANI ROBINSON: In 2009. Now, the thing about this form is that later its used against many educators who signed the form. She is appealing her conviction. EIN: 58-0566206. Could you talk about the impact on the individuals in this case? So, just this push and this overemphasis of high-stakes testing, and even how its led to racketeering charges, you know, I just think that it was blown way out of proportion. Donald Bullock, former testing coordinator: Weekends in jail for 6 months, $5,000 fine, 5 years of probation and 1,500 hours of community service. Officials said the cheating allowed employees to collect bonuses and helped improve the reputations of both Dr. Hall and the perpetually troubled school district she had led since 1999. Administrators often interpret this behavior as aligned with NAIS Principles of Good Practice, particularly Equity and Justice. Commitment to free speech, expression and academic inquiry, prohibition on partisan political activity, Parental rights remain paramount and so on. Kyle Holmes (book) and David Taylor Gomes (music & lyrics) The case unfolded at a time of pushback against what some see as the excesses of standardized testing. And one of the big differences was that their superintendent was a white woman, whereas Beverly Hall is a black woman who was a rising star in the field of urban education. They need to lose their Pro-Choice ethical religion, and recognize diversity of individuals, minority of one. Theyre, in my view, a waste of time. WebWESTMINSTER SCHOOLS INC. ATLANTA, GA 30327-2428 | Tax-exempt since Sept. 1951. 10 in best private K-12 schools; No. The Westminster School did send an email to parents, school trustees, and staff on Monday afternoon informing them of the police investigation. Staff and teachers examined the historical and cultural context of racism, reflected on their own relationships with race, and worked through strategies for personal action plans, according to the trainings description. WebPrestigious 41,000-a-year Westminster school is hit by 'rape culture' claims as dozens of former female pupils compile 21-page dossier detailing sex assault and abuse allegations Don't worry, we'll never share or sell your information. I cant accept that theres a culture of cheating, Dr. Hall said in an interview in 2011. What these 178 are accused of is horrific, but we have over 3,000 teachers.. This is viewer supported news. But Obama really continued the policies of No Child Left Behind in practice, if not in name. We need more data-driven education instruction as an alternative. Again, their book, None of the Above: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal, Corporate Greed, and the Criminalization of Educators. In another incident, students were allowed to wear Biden/Harris t-shirts while a student who wore a Make America Great Again hat was reprimanded. In Washington, D.C., there were 103 schools that were flagged for highsuspiciously high erasures or test scores. Copyright 2008-2023, Legal Insurrection, All Rights Reserved. Paul Rossiis a high school mathematics teacher, tutor, and writer. Former Guantnamo Prisoners Ask Biden to Let Them Keep Art They Made to Escape Inhumane Conditions, Landmark U.N. Its very clear how the IRS will respond. I think people will stop, and they will make an assessment of our educational system.. Regions Plaza is located on the corner of West Peachtree Street and 14th Street in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. [21] The show opened at Granite Bay High School three weeks after Operation Varsity Blues charges were made public. DONALD BULLOCK: I, Donald Bullock, do hereby sincerely apologize to the students, my fellow staff members, parents and the Atlanta Public Schools system, as well as the greater metropolitan Atlanta community for my involvement in the 2009 CRC administration resulting in cheating or other dysfunctional acts. is a 501(c)3 non-profit news organization. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Twenty-one defendants avoided trial with plea deals. 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