New England Sun-Times

BOSTON (AP) — A new report say workers for the state’s child welfare agency suffer from low morale, heavy caseloads and poor working conditions. The survey of more than 1,500 Department of Children and Families employees was commissioned by the Legislature following the disappearance and death of a 5-year-old Fitchburg boy whose family was being monitored by the state. Employees complained of lack of oversight and bureaucratic policies driven by fear. They said they were stressed out by handing as many as 20 cases at once and complained of department offices infested with rodents and insects, and with broken computers. Despite the complaints, many say they are committed to their work. Marylou Sudders, secretary of Health and Human Services, which oversees the agency, says changes are already being made based on the survey.

By Mark Berman April 1 at 2:23 PM   In one of the biggest cheating scandals of its kind in the U.S., 11 former Atlanta public school educators were convicted Wednesday of racketeering for their role in a scheme to inflate students' scores on standardized exams. (AP) More than two years after dozens of people were indicted over a widespread cheating scandal in the Atlanta public school system, a jury found multiple former teachers and educators guilty Wednesday of conspiring to change test scores. The lengthy trial focused on a scandal that had drawn widespread attention as teachers and principals from elementary and middle schools were charged with racketeering. Many of them later took plea deals to avoid the trial, with some pleading guilty and agreeing to probation, community service as well as vowing to apologize. A jury found 11 of 12 former educators guilty of racketeering. Fulton County Superior ...