Several Atlanta educators implicated in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal will soon find out whether the state will yank their teaching certificates.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the state Professional Standards Commission on Thursday is expected to hand down the first formal punishments in the case.

The commission, which certifies and polices educators in Georgia, will decide the fate of about a dozen APS educators Thursday. It's expected to hear cases through January.

The commission can issue a range of punishments, from a warning to a certificate revocation. That punishment is separate from APS's efforts to fire the teachers or possible criminal charges.

About 180 Atlanta Public Schools employees were implicated in the scandal after a state investigation revealed cheating in nearly half of the district's 100 schools.

Tags: education, Georgia Professional Standards Commission, cheating scandal, Atlanta schools