Jail for 9 of 10 ex-educators in Atlanta test-cheating case

ATLANTA (AP) — In the sentencing hearing for 10 former Atlanta public school educators convicted in a test-cheating conspiracy, all but one received jail time...

TheGrio Staff

Apr 14, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) — In the sentencing hearing for 10 former Atlanta public school educators convicted in a test-cheating conspiracy, all but one received jail time.

Two of the former educators accepted deals with prosecutors Tuesday. Former teacher Pamela Cleveland will serve five years’ probation, including one year on home confinement. Former testing coordinator Donald Bullock was sentenced to six months of weekends spent in jail and five years’ probation. They both agreed they won’t appeal.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter had delayed sentencing to give everyone negotiating time. But the eight others didn’t take deals. Their sentences range from serving one to seven years in jail. Some of those sentences went well beyond prosecutors’ recommendations.

The eight who didn’t take deals can appeal within 30 days and can be out of jail on bond.

Baxter called the case “pervasive” and “the sickest thing that’s ever happened in this town.”