School & District Management News in Brief

Atlanta’s Public High Schools Placed on Probation

By Christina A. Samuels — January 25, 2011 1 min read
Atlanta school board members, from left, Yolanda Johnson, Howard Grant, Reuben McDaniel, and Courtney English, watch Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, the vice chair of the board, speak to reporters after the accrediting group AdvancED placed the district's high schools on probation.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

An accrediting group placed Atlanta’s high schools on probation last week, saying in a report that the decision was driven by fierce infighting among the district’s board members and a breakdown in board leadership.

AdvancED, the parent organization of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, said that when a review team visited the district in early December, it heard about board votes taken without proper approval, staged media events to promote the board chairman’s personal agenda, a board member using a district-issued charge card for personal expenses, and continuing fallout from an investigation into allegations of cheating on state tests.

Factions on the board have hardened to the point that most votes now are 5-4, according to the report, which was prepared at the request of board members who said they were concerned they weren’t able to govern.

AdvancED is giving the district until the end of September to make changes, said Mark A. Elgart, the organization’s chief executive officer. For now, the high schools remain accredited, so students are not at risk of having college or scholarship applications disrupted this school year.

Mr. Elgart said it was notable that Atlanta had gone from a district honored for its strong management 18 months ago to a “state of paralysis.” Clearly, he said, “it’s gotten to a place of being personal for them.”

Keith Bromery, the spokesman for the Atlanta public schools, said the 47,800-student district would work closely with AdvancED to prove it was making progress. Atlanta’s elementary and middle schools are not affected because they are accredited by a different organization.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the January 26, 2011 edition of Education Week as Atlanta’s Public High Schools Placed on Probation

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Engaging Every Learner: Strategies to Boost Math Motivation
Math Motivation Boost! Research & real tips to engage learners.
Content provided by Prodigy Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
The Ripple Effect: Mental Health & Student Outcomes
Learn how student mental health impacts outcomes—and how to use that data to support your school’s IEP funding strategy.
Content provided by Huddle Up
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Food and Massage Coupons: How Principals Signal Their Appreciation for Teachers
Small gestures can go a long way this Teacher Appreciation Week.
5 min read
Image of a notebook page with "THANK YOU TEACHER" written with some doodles and smiley faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Be a Focused Leader When There’s a Lot of Noise
Burnout, attrition, absenteeism, and disengagement are key issues for schools. Here's a path forward for educators.
3 min read
Screen Shot 2025 04 29 at 6.54.09 AM
Canva
School & District Management 'Go-Betweens' Are Invaluable to Principals. A Guide to Cultivating Them
A school leader's guide to creating and supporting a second-line leader.
2 min read
Wooden pawns on interconnected circles. Concept of interrelationships. 3d illustration.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Well Do You Understand K-12 Leaders’ Social Media Habits?
Test your knowledge of how school and district leaders use social media—what platforms they prefer, how often they post, and getting their attention.