The head of an accrediting agency had harsh words for the Atlanta school board, telling members to stop being selfish and do what's best for the 47,000 students in the urban district.

Mark Elgart of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools went before the board Monday, just a week after his organization put the district on probation over its squabbling school board.

A board committee voted unanimously Monday before a packed auditorium to accept the SACS report that outlines six actions required by Sept. 30 to keep accreditation.

The full board was expected to vote on the report later Monday.

Without accreditation, the district could lose millions in grant money and students could be at risk of not gaining admission to some colleges.

SACS accredits Atlanta's high schools.