Teachers in majority black public schools are under intense pressure to close the racial gap in standardized tests. This means they have to get black students to achieve test score closer to the white average. Majority black schools typically receive extra funding from the Federal government that is directly tied to black test scores. These schools can lose their bonus Federal dollars if test scores are not improved.

No school district in America has been able to significantly close the black/white academic gap. Facing pressure from administrators, many teachers resort to cheating. Cheating scandals are popping up at majority black school districts all over America. Sometimes even administrators are accused of being in on it.

Atlanta is one of the school districts that is suspected of widespread cheating. Teacher’s received bonus pay if their students performed better on standardized tests. This makes cheating an even more serious crime in this school district. At least 35 teachers have been indicted so far. Many more could be charged. It is believes that over 180 teachers were involved in cheating.

Eleven of the Atlanta suspects were convicted of felony racketeering yesterday. They face up to twenty years in prison. Sentencing will occur on April 8th.

Have teachers been assigned an impossible task? Is it realistic to say that all the races should be able to perform at the same academic level?

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