Panel: Educators in scandal should lose licenses

ATLANTA – A committee in Georgia has recommended revoking the teaching licenses of eight teachers and three administrators accused in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating investigation.

The full Georgia Professional Standards Commission is expected to vote on the recommendations later Thursday. The 11 represent the first batch of cases from the state probe that revealed widespread cheating in nearly half the district's 100 schools. If the sanctions are approved, the teachers can reapply for their licenses in two years. However, the administrators' revocations are permanent.

All can appeal the commission's ruling. The commission is expected to take up the rest of the cases through the end of the year.

The nearly 180 Atlanta educators named by state investigators could also face criminal charges. The state probe was made public in July.