ers - should be considered invalid because they were incorrectly conducted or performed by unqualified staff.

 The state law specifically says [exams have] to be administered by a qualified examiner,  Walker said.

Related coverage from award-winning Investigative Reporter Andy Pierrotti

Walker said the potential harm of a flawed evaluation can go both ways, either placing a student into special education services unnecessarily or failing to identify the supports a child actually needs.

Rise in school staff-filing special education complaints

Internal documents reviewed by Atlanta News First Investigates show Georgia Department of Education staff alerted leadership over two consecutive years the agency was seeing  more complaints filed by current school staff  involving special education compliance issues, including  more complaints filed in districts that have not historically had complaints. 

Lisa Morgan, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, said the increase should raise alarms.  It should be signaling to the Georgia Department of Education we have a problem,  Morgan said.  We need to be looking at how the system has, over the years, continued to add onto special education teachers' plates particularly. 

Walker's allegations come as a 2024 APS internal audit found widespread problems in how parts of the district's special education program were documented and tracked.

Auditors examined how the district identifies, refers, evaluates and develops Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.

The audit stated key APS policies generally align with Georgia Department of Education regulations. But auditors found the district's procedures and documentation requirements were not consistently applied across schools.

Among the audit's high-priority findings:

Standard forms were not consistently completed or retained when students were identified and referred for special education, including documents such as problem identification checklists, response to intervention plans and initial referral checklists.

Weekly progress monitoring and monthly student support team (SST) meetings were not consistently documented, despite district policy requiring monitoring and check-ins during intervention periods.

In some cases, evaluations were performed without retained written parental consent

Documentation did not always verify required SST and IEP team members were included or, when members were absent, that parents agreed to excuse them.

Auditors found required milestones in the evaluation and IEP process were not consistently completed within district or state timelines, and documentation substantiating reasons for delays was lacking.

In its responses, APS outlined corrective steps, including developing standard operating procedures, sampling cases monthly to check for required files, retraining staff on timelines and documentation, and adding required trainings for cross-functional teams.

APS response and what's next

APS disputed Walker's claims. According to records shared by Walker, the Georgia Department of Education is still investigating his complaint. The state agency did not respond to requests for comment.

APS provided this full response to this report:

APS remains committed to providing high-quality special education services and supports to students and families. In 2024, APS commissioned an Exceptional Education review conducted by Plante Moran to identify opportunities to strengthen systems, processes, and support for schools. Needs and demand in Exceptional Education have grown since the pandemic across the country and APS has experienced this as well. Since 2021, our enrollment of students with disabilities has increased by approximately 600, with the largest increase being students with autism, and we are honored to serve over 6,000 students in our exceptional education department . Our investment in Exceptional Education is at an all-time high and we are committed to continuous improvement for our students. In the recently approved FY27 budget, APS will be investing an additional $10 million in Exceptional Education. Since 2024, APS has increased its investment in Exceptional Education by more than $50 million and our overall investment in Exceptional Education has more than doubled since 2021.

Since the review APS has enhanced monitoring, staff training and strengthened operational procedures. The review did not identify systemic concerns regarding psychological evaluations or eligibility determinations. Eligibility decisions are made by a team that includes parents, educators, and other qualified professionals. We are aware of a lawsuit filed against Kindezi Schools, APS and several individuals. We look forward to responding to these allegations through the appropriate legal process. Our enhanced processes have already contributed to measurable improvements which include receiving a perfect score on the Georgia Department of Education's LEA Designation Report Card, marking the first time in five years the district has reached this milestone. Additionally, the system had 99% compliance with evaluation timelines and IEP completion and an overall parent satisfaction rate of 93%.

Our focus on improving our services for students has also been identified nationally. In December 2025, the U.S. Department of Education awarded APS a $2.9 million Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant, selecting the district as one of just 65 nationwide to train and develop school psychologists and expand critical mental health supports for Atlanta's students. These achievements reflect extensive collaboration among teachers, school-based coordinators, principals, and district leaders to strengthen compliance, improve accountability, and remove barriers to student success.

As part of our ongoing improvement efforts, the district is also strengthening family and community engagement by expanding opportunities for collaboration with parents, caregivers, and advocacy organizations, including groups such as Atlanta Thrive. Through regular dialogue, stakeholder feedback, and partnership opportunities, APS seeks to ensure that families are informed, supported, and actively engaged in the special education process. While we are proud of our progress, we remain focused on continual improvement and ensuring services are delivered in accordance with state and federal requirements so that every student receives the support they need to succeed.

If you're a parent or educator with information about special education evaluations, referrals, IEP services or documentation issues, contact Atlanta News First Investigates.

If there's something you would like Atlanta News First Investigates to dig into, fill out this submission form.

Download our Atlanta News First app for your latest news and information.

Atlanta News First podcasts are available now on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | YouTube