Atlanta Cheating Ring

Eight Atlanta educators have been sentenced to between one and seven years in prison for participating in a massive cheating ring, Reuters is reporting.

The former principals, teachers and administrators were accused of trying to boost their bonuses by conspiring to cheat and falsely raise student test scores. Initially, dozens of educators were charged and many have since pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation in exposing the scandal which first came to light in 2008.

"There were thousands of children that were harmed in this thing. This was not a victimless crime that occurred." Judge Jerry Baxter said during sentencing. "It's the sickest thing that's ever happened to this town."

UNC Athletics Scam

 

From the Daily Caller.com:

At the University of North Carolina, the extent of a shocking con — which involved dozens of athletes who for years were deliberately enrolled in fake classes and awarded passing grades to keep them eligible for sports — has now been fully publicized thanks to the confessions of two whistle-blowers.

Generation Next

The website for Generation Next says the group is "a broad partnership of organizations and leaders from across the Twin Cities" representing schools, government, businesses and community organizations, "all dedicated to educational excellence and narrowing the achievement gap."

The  Generation Next mission statement: "To dramatically accelerate educational achievement of all children from early childhood through early career through an aligned partnership of community stakeholders."

Generation Next

Strive Together

Growth and Justice

Center for School Change

MN Minority Education Leadership
African American Leadership Forum

Minneapolis Achievement Gap

Some 87 percent of the Minneapolis School District's teachers are White, while 70 percent of students are minorities, according to Bill English, co-chair of Black/African American Leadership Summit.

A Message from the Superintendent . . .

A Philadelphia Inquirer article entitled, Coatesville Parents Demand Firings details a series of extremely vulgar, racist and sexist text messages exchanged between a PA school superintendent and his high school athletic director.

Redneck Day?

The U.S. Department of Ed. has said it will open an investigation after a student in Arizona wore a Confederate flag to a school-sponsored "Redneck Day."

Civil rights leaders contacted department officials after a photo emerged of a student wearing a large Confederate Army battle flag as a cape during May school spirit week at Queen Creek High School. "I found it to be offensive," Civil Rights Activist Rev. Jarrett Maupin told KTVK-TV. "I think many in the community did and the department responded."