ATLANTA (AJC/WAOK)-Monday could be the beginning of the end for some of the educators accused of cheating in Atlanta Public Schools. Superintendent Erroll Davis reportedly gave several educators until Monday to decide whether to  resign or be fired.

Two have resigned since the district put educators on notice Thursday that terminations were imminent. About 120 educators remain on the payroll at a cost of $600,000 a month to the city school district.

More educators are expected to resign or retire in the coming weeks, Davis said. After that, the district plans to pursue the most egregious cases first.

Davis said the district is now ready to move forward because attorneys have access to the evidence needed to build a case against the accused. The Fulton County District Attorney‘s Office, which is conducting a criminal investigation, has agreed to let the district view evidence. Davis said he expects the first charge letters will go out next week.

Since July,  Atlanta Public Schools has spent $6.2 million to pay  the salaries of educators placed on administrative leave after  their names appeared in the 400-plus-page report on cheating. Almost $700,000  has been spent in legal fees,  and in January APS found it must  repay more than $363,000 in federal money earned as a result of  falsified test scores.

Educators named in the report also face criminal  prosecution or loss of certification. The Professional Standards  Commission,  which certifies and monitors Georgia educators,  has  sanctioned 16 educators in the scandal.

More in this report from the AJC