Meria Carstarphen Voted Out As Atlanta Schools Superintendent

ATLANTA — The Atlanta school board has voted not to renew the contract for Dr. Meria Carstarphen, who has led the school system since 2014 in the wake of a devastating testing scandal that generated international headlines. Carstarphen's contract will not be renewed beyond June 30, 2020.

Carstarphen was hired to take over from former superintendent Beverly Hall, whose administration oversaw a massive effort to rig the results of the state's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. Dozens of teachers and administrators were charged in the scheme.

Carstarphen's district includes nearly 52,000 students, 6,000 full-time employees and 87 schools with an annual budget of $1 billion. Prior to serving in Atlanta, she was superintendent in diverse, major metropolitan public school districts, including Austin, Texas, and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

School board Chairman Jason Esteves said the board will begin a search for her replacement immediately.

Carstarphen issued this statement following the board's behind-closed-doors vote:

"It is with great sadness that I must inform you that the Atlanta Board of Education this morning decided to launch a search for a new superintendent. Serving the children of Atlanta Public Schools in this role – and working alongside each of you – has been the greatest honor of my professional life.

"As I have expressed for the past few months, I had a sincere desire for a contract extension so that our team and I could complete the vision and charge I was hired to achieve for the benefit of Atlanta’s children: Rebuild and restore trust in Atlanta Public Schools and position it for the future, especially after the largest cheating scandal in the history of public education.

"I’ve always been committed to working diligently and collaboratively to achieve the District’s goals and our mission to prepare every student for college and career. I feel we are well on that path. In fact, APS has made great progress from rising graduation rates to higher test scores to increased autonomy and resources for our schools.

"I love hard. I work passionately. And when necessary, I fight for you and Atlanta’s children. I have always done what I believed to be right. I've always worked conscientiously to execute our mission and vision. And I have always had the belief that, despite challenges we have faced, we have always been able to come together and take actions in the best interests of children. For that, I am really proud of all of us.

"The disparity in educational outcomes for Atlanta’s children has been intergenerational and systemic. The solutions are not easy, which is why I so passionately wanted to stay and finish the job I was hired to do.

"The Atlanta community entrusts its children and its hard-earned tax dollars to us. We owe it to our community to continue to get up each day and show up for our children. I am incredibly humbled by the support and grateful for our community of students, caregivers, principals, teachers, staff, alumni and partners who have been so supportive of the work we have done.

"I’ve said many times: I love Atlanta … I believe in Atlanta. I believe in you, and I believe our team will continue to get the job done for children. Despite progress and gains, this work is not done.

"As hard as it is sometimes, given the challenges inside and outside of the system, I do love my job and want to work to ensure that Atlanta has a homegrown educated workforce. I’ve made Atlanta my home, and there is still so much more work to be done. We have come a long way since the dark days of scandal, and I hope we can continue the progress.

"Our children need all of us — the Board and Superintendent, along with the community — to fight for them and to be their voice to have the best chance at choice-filled lives."

Carstarphen's APS bio credits her with the following:

• The district’s graduation rate has increased by 20.8 percentage points from 59.1 percent in 2014 to 79.9 percent in 2018, the highest graduation rate the district has achieved since the state aligned with the national standard in 2012.
• The school system in 2019 achieved its highest rates of proficiency on all subjects on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of Course assessments since the Georgia Department of Education first implemented the program in 2015.
• From 2018 to 2019, APS achieved year-over-year gains in the percentage of students scoring proficient and above on 21 of 24 (88%) End-of-Grade and End-of-Course assessments compared to gains in just over half (52%) three years ago.
• For the first time in seven years, APS is no longer disproportionate for the over suspension of African-American students with disabilities.
• APS’ college-going rate has continued to increase, as 62% of 2018 on-time graduates were enrolled in two- or four-year institutions as of Fall 2018, an increase of 11 percentage points since 2015.
• The number of engaged employees increased significantly, 16 percentage points over five years, exceeding the national average among K-12 programs as reported by Gallup.
• The number of student arrests is down by 34% and student suspension rates have decreased overall.