Atlanta Public Schools Investigation Commission Panel Named

By Rose Scott

Atlanta, GA – An investigation into possible test cheating in the Atlanta Public Schools began today with the appointment of a 15-member independent commission.
The Atlanta Education Fund selected the panel to look into the unusual erasures on last year's Criterion Referenced Competency Tests.
WABE's Rose Scott reports who's on the commission and its top priority.

Some of the names are familiar, Spelman President, Dr. Beverly Tatum and Coca Cola executive Ingrid Saunders Jones. The group will oversee the entire investigation into those schools flagged a severe or moderate number of erasures on the test.
Gary Price of Pricewaterhouse Coopers is the panel chair. He says diverse makeup of the panel represents a common goal to ensure a thorough investigation.

Price adds it was important the commission consist of members from the business, civic and education sector and at the same time remain independent of the Atlanta Public Schools.
However, current APS Board Chair LaChandra Butler Burks is a commission member.
Price says Burks appointment should not be viewed as a conflict of interest and cites with 15 members, it would be difficult for one voice to dictate the panel.

Price says now it's time to get started with the actual investigation and the first priority is hiring an external entity to conduct the investigation.

The company or investigative team will examine student answer sheets and determine the cause of erasures .whether they were made by students or school staff.
Price says an announcement of that company will happen in the next 2 weeks.