Perdue names special investigators for schools probe

ATLANTA – Gov. Sonny Perdue on Friday named special investigators to probe “testing irregularities” during the administration of the CRCT in 2009 at public schools in Atlanta and Dougherty County.

Former state Attorney General Mike Bowers and former DeKalb County District Attorney Bob Wilson will serve as special investigators, Perdue announced. The two will have subpoena power.

According to state officials, 35 school systems statewide had the chance to conduct internal investigations into irregularities. But, “internal investigations (by Atlanta and Dougherty County schools) were woefully inadequate,” Perdue said in a Wednesday statement to the State Board of Education.

“This Special Investigator will have full legal authority, including subpoena power, the ability to require sworn testimony on penalty of perjury, and other broad investigatory powers,” Perdue said. “I am hopeful and expectant that both Atlanta and Dougherty County schools will cooperate with this investigation so that the investigator appointed will not need to use the full range of powers at his disposal.

“This investigation will be both thorough and swift,” Perdue added. “It is unfair to any student who has been cheated to let this linger, and it is absolutely unfair to the majority of APS and Dougherty educators who have done absolutely nothing wrong to leave these concerns looming over their systems like dark clouds.”