CLARKSDALE, Miss. — A judge will decide next week whether Mississippi education officials can restart a license revocation hearing for a Clarksdale teacher who is accused of cheating on standardized tests.
Frances Smith-Kemp’s attorney says state law specifies a teacher would have to be convicted of a misdemeanor charge of misconduct before a license revocation hearing can be held.
But, attorneys for the state Department of Education disagree.
They say a specific portion of state law allows a revocation hearing to move forward without a misdemeanor charge being prosecuted.
They say revocation is a civil procedure, and a misconduct charge would be a criminal procedure.
Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas heard arguments Wednesday.
Smith-Kemp is accused of coaching her elementary school students during standardized tests, and of changing some of their answers.