State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge Addresses CRCT Cheating Investigation

Statement from State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge and Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Kathleen Mathers Regarding the APS Cheating Investigation
     
MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org  
                     Kathleen Mathers, GOSA, (404) 463-1150, kmathers@georgia.gov

July 5, 2011 – State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge and Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Kathleen Mathers released the following statement today regarding the APS Cheating Investigation.

“The investigation reveals some evidence of unethical behavior within APS where some educators, including those in leadership positions, chose their own interests over helping students entrusted to their care. The Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement will work closely with APS and its Interim Superintendent, Erroll Davis, to provide support for students who were negatively impacted by the actions of some adults.”

“In the coming weeks we will be working on a number of key issues, including: 1) student support, 2) accountability, and 3) the financial benefit that some schools may have received as a result of cheating.”

“While this story has dominated the headlines over the last couple of years, it is important to remember that the vast majority of the educators in Georgia are ethically sound and work diligently with the best interests of their students in mind.”