schools
Atlanta Public Schools accused of using unqualified staff for student evaluations
By Andy Pierrotti at Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News
· July 6, 2026
· 7 min read
What’s in this investigationA former APS psychologist’s state complaint alleges unqualified staff administered psychological evaluations. APS disputes the allegation.A 12-year-old student’s testing is cited in the complaint as an example of potentially invalid evaluation work.Internal Georgia Dep...
Key takeaway The complaint centers, in part, on the evaluation of a 12-year-old Atlanta student whose mother, Natalie Robinson, said she sought help after noticing her daughter appeared to struggle in reading comprehension.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The allegations of unqualified staff conducting student psychological evaluations in Atlanta Public Schools raise concerns about the validity of special education referrals and Individualized Education Program (IEP) decisions. A 2024 APS audit found documentation and timeline problems that can affect these processes, which may be exacerbated by the use of unqualified evaluators. The fact that internal Georgia Department of Education documents show a broader increase in special education complaints filed by school employees against their own districts suggests that this issue may not be isolated to APS. As the Georgia Department of Education reviews the complaint, Atlanta parents and educators will be watching to see how the district responds to these allegations and what steps it takes to ensure that student evaluations are conducted by qualified professionals. The outcome of this investigation will have significant implications for the education and support of students with learning disabilities in Atlanta.
About this story
Original reporting by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 6, 2026 ·
Source: Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News ·
Reading time: 7 min
Get more The Atlanta stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering schools and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? What’s in this investigationA former APS psychologist’s state complaint alleges unqualified staff administered psychological evaluations. APS disputes the allegation.A 12-year-old student’s testing is cited in the complaint as an example of potentially invalid evaluation work.Internal Georgia Dep...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 6, 2026 by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andy Pierrotti at Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More schools →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter