Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- Authorities say Atlanta's public school system has spent more than $1.7 million hiring outside attorneys to assist with cases in the district's school cheating scandal.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that it could be a year or more before all are resolved.

An investigation last July implicated about 180 educators in instances of cheating dating back to 2001. Their report cited a range of violations - from holding parties to change answers to instructing students to recheck work if they noticed an incorrect response.

Educators can challenge the commission's ruling, and hearings have been requested in about 120 cases so far.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)