Atlanta educators in widespread cheating scandal trial

The trial of a dozen former Atlanta educators charged in one of the nation's largest school test-cheating scandals began on Monday, a case receiving wide attention as similar cheating accusations blemish schools across the United States.

Lawyers say it could take several months to try the group of former teachers, principals and administrators, accused of conspiring to alter students' standardized test scores after a state investigation uncovered cheating at 44 Atlanta public schools in 2009.

Investigators said the educators inflated test results to boost their bonuses in a data-driven environment.

The high-profile Atlanta case is one in a string of cheating cases affecting 39 states over the last five years...
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Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/11/us-usa-education-atlanta