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NAVIGATING THE DANGEROUS SEAS OF TEACHER DISCIPLINE

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Title: NAVIGATING THE DANGEROUS SEAS OF TEACHER DISCIPLINE


1
NAVIGATING THE DANGEROUS SEAS OF TEACHER
DISCIPLINE
  • ACSAs 2014 Personnel Institute
  • October 9, 2014
  • Presented By
  • Michelle L. Cannon

2
Introduction
  • Every former student can recall the teacher who
    couldnt teach. Yet the belief that such
    teachers tenure meant absolute protection from
    dismissal was shared by students, parents, school
    administrators and school boards. Myth or
    reality?
  • It is possible to dismiss poor teachers and
    teachers who engage in misconduct.
  • An absolute first step in the teacher dismissal
    process is proper training of school
    administrators in evaluating teachers and
    documenting misconduct. District administrators
    must also develop a plan and work as a team with
    advice of legal counsel.

3
Knowledge about specific legal requirements
  • Statutory causes for dismissal
  • Procedural pitfalls in Education Code
  • Personnel files (Ed. Code 44031) and Miller v.
    Chico
  • Performance evaluations Documentation
  • Commission on Professional Competence (CPC) and
    Hearing Process
  • Dismissal Process from A to Z

4
Changes in law starting January 1, 2015
  • Egregious Conduct
  • Alternative process
  • Miscellaneous changes

5
Statutory Causes for Dismissal of Permanent
Teacher
  • Education Code 44932(a) lists the following
    causes for dismissal
  • Immoral Conduct (Immediate unpaid suspension per
    Ed. Code 44939)
  • Unprofessional conduct (45-day Notice of
    Deficiency per Ed. Code 44938(a))
  • Dishonesty
  • Unsatisfactory Performance (90-day Notice of
    Deficiency per Ed. Code 44938(a))
  • Evident Unfitness for Service

6
Statutory Causes for Dismissal of Permanent
Teacher (contd)
  • Physical/Mental condition making person unfit to
    teach
  • Persistent Violation of or Refusal to Obey School
    Laws of the State or Reasonable Regulations of
    State or Governing Board
  • Conviction of a Felony or any Crime Involving
    Moral Turpitude (also allows for immediate unpaid
    suspension)
  • Knowing membership in Communist Party
  • Alcoholism or other drug abuse which makes
    employee unfit to teach

7
Statutory Causes for Suspension of Permanent
Teacher
  • Education Code 44932(b) authorizes suspension
    without pay for a specific period of time.
  • Only for Unprofessional Conduct
  • Only if 45-day Notice of Deficiency has been sent
  • Only if there is no provision in collective
    bargaining agreement

8
Immediate Unpaid Suspension
  • Education Code 44939 authorizes immediate
    unpaid suspension upon filing of charges for
    dismissal.
  • May be used when teacher charged with immoral
    conduct, conviction of a felony or a crime
    involving moral turpitude, incompetency due to
    mental disability, and willful refusal to perform
    regular assignments without reasonable cause.

9
Procedural Pitfalls Education Code
  • Education Code 44944(a)
  • No witness shall be permitted to testify at the
    hearing except upon oath or affirmation. No
    testimony shall be given or evidence introduced
    relating to matters which occurred more than four
    years prior to the date of the filing of the
    notice. Evidence of records regularly kept by
    the governing board concerning the employee may
    be introduced, but no decision relating to the
    dismissal or suspension of any employee shall be
    made based on charges or evidence of any nature
    relating to matters occurring more than four
    years prior to the filing of the notice.
    (Emphasis added.)

10
Procedural Pitfalls Education Code (contd)
  • This section places a strict limitation on the
    time that can elapse between any incident and the
    filing of the Notice of Dismissal and Statement
    of Charges.
  • Possible exception based upon equitable
    estoppel (Atwater case).
  • Education Code 44944(a) also provides that
    hearing must commence within 60 days from date of
    employees demand for hearing.
  • Statement of Charges must be verified.

11
Procedural Pitfalls Education Code (contd)
  • Two charging documents
  • Statement of Charges under Education Code
  • Accusation under Administrative Procedure Act
  • Education Code 44936 prohibits giving of Notice
    of Dismissal or Suspension between May 15 and
    September 15.

12
Procedural Pitfalls Cases
  • Morrison standards (Morrison v. State Board of
    Education 1969 California Supreme Court)
  • Applies to teacher dismissal based upon the
    following causes
  • Immoral Conduct
  • Dishonesty
  • Evident Unfitness for Service
  • Case involved private, consensual, noncriminal
    homosexual relationship which had occurred 19
    months before
  • Conduct must indicate teacher is not fit to teach

13
Procedural Pitfalls Cases (contd)
  • Morrison standards
  • Harm caused by conduct to students or fellow
    teachers
  • Degree of harm anticipated
  • Proximity or remoteness in time
  • Type of teaching certificate
  • Extenuating or aggravating circumstances
  • Motive
  • Likelihood of recurrence
  • Chilling effect on legal rights

14
Procedural Pitfalls Cases (contd)
  • Impact of Morrison there must be some nexus
    between teachers conduct and job performance
    before conduct can form basis for dismissal
  • Recent update San Diego USD v. CPC (2011)

15
Personnel Files (Education Code 44031 and
Miller v. Chico)
  • If it is not written down, given to employee and
    placed in the employees personnel file within a
    reasonable time, it did not happen.
  • Intent is to give teacher notice of any
    performance problems and the opportunity to
    respond, i.e. to tell his or her side of the
    story.
  • Unless CBA or Policy prohibits it, supervisors
    may keep a working file to store temporary
    records (such as calendars or handwritten notes)
    relative to recent incidents.

16
Personnel Files (Education Code 44031 and
Miller v. Chico) (contd)
  • Any information in working file that has ongoing
    significance must find its way from working file
    into personnel file via
  • Performance evaluation
  • Formal documentation
  • Must be made available for inspection

17
Personnel Files (Education Code 44031 and
Miller v. Chico) (contd)
  • Magic paragraph -
  • Pursuant to Education Code 44031, you have
    the right to comment upon this Notice and to have
    your written comments attached to a copy, which
    will be placed in your personnel file maintained
    in the districts personnel office in
    approximately ten days.

18
Sound Evaluations Are Critical Component Of A
Winning Case Based on Unsatisfactory Performance
  • Why are evaluations and documents so important?
    Because documents speak louder than words!
  • Full compliance with all provisions in CBA,
    including evaluation forms
  • Timelines
  • Procedural steps

19
Sound Evaluations Are Critical Component Of A
Winning Case Based on Unsatisfactory Performance
(contd)
  • Goal
  • Provide written record to support testimony
    during hearing before CPC
  • Importance of detail in evaluation creating an
    accurate record of what is occurring in classroom
  • Avoid union challenge

20
TEACHER EVALUATIONS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
  • Properly prepared evaluations can reward and
    support good teachers and help them become better
    teachers
  • Enhance ongoing conversations between teacher and
    administrator about what works and what does not
    work and why and how to improve

21
TEACHER EVALUATIONS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
(contd)
  • Minimize misunderstandings verbal communication
    can be misunderstood
  • Provide record for teacher for later reference
  • Stimulate teacher reflection to enhance student
    learning
  • Provide documentation for any discipline

22
TEACHER EVALUATIONS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
(contd)
  • But remember
  • Primary objective is always to improve job
    performance
  • Secondary objective is to document poor
    performance

23
Building a Winning Case
  • Types of Documentation
  • Evaluations
  • Letters of warning, direction, reprimand
  • Formal notices of deficiency (with most recent
    evaluation attached)
  • 45-Day Notice of Unprofessional Conduct
  • 90-Day Notice of Unsatisfactory Performance
  • Combined notice for both

24
Building a Winning Case (contd)
  • Plan for Improvement
  • In a dismissal hearing documentation is key.
    School Districts are inherently at a disadvantage
    in witness credibility battles. The natural
    tendency is to resolve any doubts in favor of the
    underdog the teacher who is fighting for their
    job.
  • Without documentation teacher may argue
    performance was satisfactory and/or had no
    knowledge of problems.
  • Only accurate and specific documentation can
    counter this argument.

25
Commission on Professional Competence
  • Dismissal hearing is conducted before a
    three-person panel (CPC) composed of
  • Administrative law judge who serves as
    chairperson
  • One member selected by teacher
  • One member selected by district and
  • Both of these members cannot be employees of the
    district initiating the dismissal, must hold a
    currently valid credential, and must have at
    least five years experience within the past ten
    years in the discipline of the teacher.

26
Commission on Professional Competence (contd)
  • Standard of proof preponderance of the
    evidence.
  • Written decision by CPC.

27
Other Important Reminders
  • Placement of teachers on paid administrative
    leave.
  • Weingarten Rights Employees right to
    representation in investigatory
    interviews/meetings that employee reasonably
    believes might result in disciplinary action.
  • Right is not triggered until employee requests
    representation.
  • School district has no obligation to inform
    employee of the right.

28
Dismissal of Probationary Teachers
  • Non-reelection on or before March 15 of second
    consecutive complete school year.
  • But effective at end of the year, not mid-year.
  • Dismissal mid-year under Educ. Code 44948.3.
  • Same causes as for permanent employees.
  • 45 day/90 day notice requirements apply.

29
Dismissal of Probationary Teachers (contd)
  • Notice of dismissal by March 15th for 2nd year
    probationary employees.
  • Must include statement of reasons and notice of
    opportunity to appeal.
  • Teacher has 15 days from receipt of notice to
    request a hearing.
  • Hearing before an ALJ with a recommended decision
    to governing board.
  • No CPC panel.
  • Suspension without pay for a specified period of
    time as an alternative to dismissal.

30
Ok, We Are Ready to Move Forward With Dismissal
of A Permanent Teacher, Now What?
  • Key Decision before filing charges is it worth
    going forward?

31
Ok, We Are Ready to Move Forward With Dismissal,
Now What? (contd)
  • Even if we can prove all these facts and charges
    will the CPC panel actually vote to terminate?
  • Approval and support from administration at all
    levels?
  • Support from key witnesses?

32
Ok, We Are Ready to Move Forward With Dismissal,
Now What? (contd)
  • Do we have all relevant documents in front of us
    nothing too embarrassing or inconsistent with the
    dismissal case.
  • Having all documents this early helps to prepare
    charges and respond to the teachers later
    requests for documents and information.
  • Causes supporting dismissal in Educ. Code
    44932.
  • Must be nexus between conduct and ability to
    function as a teacher.

33
Pre-Disciplinary Conference
  • Send Skelly letter setting informal meeting to
    notify teacher of intent to recommend
    disciplinary action (including dismissal) to the
    Superintendent and Board.
  • It should very closely resemble the draft
    Statement of Charges (see below).
  • The employee gets the letter a few days ahead of
    the meeting time.
  • Allow employee to bring representative
    (Weingarten).

34
Pre-Disciplinary Conference
  • This is employees chance to respond to charges
    before they go to the Board.
  • Purpose is to clear up factual mistakes, allow
    employee to state why the proposed action is
    improper under the circumstances.
  • Keep it short and simple just hear what they
    have to say.

35
Pre-Disciplinary Conference
  • After meeting with Human Resources
    representative, that person then decides whether
    to continue to recommend discipline.
  • If district decides not to continue, notice
    should be sent to employee.
  • Full Skelly hearing like that done with
    classified employees not required here.

36
Statement of Charges
  • List all specific facts supporting charges/causes
    for dismissal including dates and times, if
    possible.
  • Include specific laws, rules, regulations
    violated.
  • Adults referred to by first and last name,
    students by first name and last initial.

37
Statement of Charges
  • List all efforts to help the teacher improve, or
    understand the problem(s).
  • Have Superintendent sign charges and a
    verification.
  • Dont charge Unprofessional Conduct or
    Unsatisfactory Performance without giving the
    required prior written notice of such charges and
    opportunity / plan to improve (45 and 90 days,
    respectively) (Ed. Code, 44938).

38
Statement of Charges
  • File with board.
  • Board decides whether to issue Notice of
    Intention to Suspend and/or Dismiss in 30 days.
  • (Ed. Code, 44934.)

39
Board Meets to Decide Whether to Authorize
Dismissal
  • Serve Notice of Intention to Dismiss In 30 Days.
  • Cannot be served on teacher between May 15 and
    September 15 (Ed. Code, 44936).
  • May include notice of unpaid suspension pending
    hearing, under certain charges (Ed. Code,
    44939).
  • Personal service or certified mail.

40
Board Meets to Decide Whether to Authorize
Dismissal
  • Must include copies of
  • Notice of Intention to Suspend and/or Dismiss
    after 30 days if no hearing requested
  • Statement of Charges

41
Board Meets to Decide Whether to Authorize
Dismissal
  • Blank Request for Hearing.
  • Copies of Education Code sections 44930 through
    44988.
  • Copies of Government Code sections 11507.5
    11507.6 and 11507.8.
  • Proof of Mailing/Service by registered or
    certified mail or personal service.

42
Wait for Employees Written Request for Hearing.
  • If not received within 30 days, Teacher is
    automatically terminated (Ed. Code, 44937).
  • If received within 30 days
  • Contact Office of Administrative Hearings
    (OAH) to open a file and get possible hearing
    dates.

43
After Request, Board Must Either Rescind its
Action or Schedule a Hearing (Ed. Code, 44943).
  • At the next possible board meeting, have Board
    vote to either
  • Rescind the disciplinary action or
  • Proceed with a hearing on the matter.
  • Once charges issued and CPC is convened, District
    cannot unilaterally dismiss charges. See 2011
    Boliou decision.

44
Prepare Accusation (Gov. Code, 11500 et seq.)
  • Hearing must start within 60 days of receiving
    request (unless teacher agrees otherwise)
    Education Code section 44944.
  • Before setting hearing dates, document at least
    one attempt to consult/ agree with employee on
    dates.
  • If you need more time, try to get the employee to
    agree, in writing to dates farther away than 60
    days, if possible or formally open the hearing
    within 60 days and postpone the rest until later.

45
Prepare Accusation (Gov. Code, 11500 et seq.)
(contd)
  • Draft detailed Accusation (re-worded Statement of
    Charges) with an emphasis on specific, provable
    misconduct/violations drafted like a complaint
    in a lawsuit showing how all the specific
    elements of each charge are met under the facts
    and circumstances (Gov. Code 11503.)
  • Must specify any statutes and rules violated, not
    just charges phrased in the language of those
    statutes / rules.

46
Obtain Districts Panel Member.
  • On three member panel, district picks a member,
    so does teacher other member is an
    Administrative Law Judge who runs the process
    rules on evidence and objections.
  • Member must be appointed by 7 days before
    hearing, or appointment power is waived.
  • Person cannot be related to the teacher, nor an
    employee of the district.

47
Obtain Districts Panel Member (contd)
  • Must hold a valid teaching credential and have
    taught for at least five years in the discipline
    of the employee out of the last ten years.
  • This definition allows the district to appoint an
    administrator who was previously a teacher.
  • Start your search early and be persistent, as it
    often takes longer than you anticipate, and can
    confer substantial benefit at hearing.

48
Obtain Districts Panel Member (contd)
  • Difficulty is that they only get reimbursement of
    costs and expenses of serving no additional
    salary, and their employer must continue to pay
    them full salary (and cost of a substitute or
    replacement).
  • This can be burdensome in a hearing lasting many
    days.

49
Serve the Accusation Packet, which contains
  • Statement to Respondent (setting forth basic
    notice of formal charges and various procedural
    rights e.g. discovery and to be represented by
    counsel).
  • Accusation (Formal charging document should
    closely resemble both the Predisciplinary Letter,
    and the Statement of Charges).

50
Serve the Accusation Packet, which contains
(contd)
  • Notice of Defense and Request for Hearing Form
    (check-off form response per Government Code
    section 11506 allowing teacher to object to the
    form of the Accusation and respond to it by
    admission or denial redundancy in Government
    Code requires teacher to again request a hearing
    within 15 days or waive right to hearing failure
    to file notice of defense also waives hearing
    right).

51
Serve the Accusation Packet, which contains
(contd)
  • Statement of Charges (another copy, with same
    attachments).
  • Proof of Mailing / Service by registered or
    certified mail or by personal service.

52
Prepare for Hearing
  • You have only 30 days from date of Accusation to
    send out Discovery requests try to send out
    districts discovery requests at the same time as
    the Accusation packet, to have documents prior to
    any depositions.
  • Early requests allow time for motion to compel
    further answers /response, if teacher or attorney
    is uncooperative (only have 15 days from
    refusal).
  • Compile hearing binders.

53
Prepare for Hearing (contd)
  • Contact districts witnesses to make sure their
    testimony are still solid and consistent with
    what they told you before.
  • Substantial amount of work in a short period of
    time.
  • Often, teachers attorney will file meritless
    nuisance motions (to limit or exclude evidence
    / discovery, dismiss entire action on
    constitutional or jurisdictional grounds) to
    run up districts costs discourage district from
    dismissing other teachers disrupt districts
    preparation for upcoming hearing.

54
Send Notice of Hearing at Least 10 Days Before
(Gov. Code, 11509)
  • Gives formal notice of time and place of hearing
    reminder of various rights.
  • Arrange for court reporter to record all
    proceedings.

55
Complete Discovery by One Week Before Hearing
  • Broad discovery allowed Education Code section
    44944(a).
  • Not only Government Code section 11507.6, but
    also includes all rights and duties of any party
    in a civil action brought in a Superior Court
    starting with Code of Civil Procedure section
    2016.

56
Complete Discovery by One Week Before Hearing
  • Broad powers to inquire into any
    information/matter reasonably calculated to lead
    to admissible evidence, through
  • Requests for Documents (and other tangible items)
  • Written Questions and Answers (Interrogatories)
  • Written Requests for Admissions (Statements to
    admit or deny in writing)
  • Live Question and Answer Sessions (Depositions)

57
If Necessary, Amend Accusation to State
Additional Facts or Charges
  • Sometimes, discovery reveals new facts and
    possible new charges.
  • You can amend accusation to reflect these new
    facts and charges you plan to use and prove at
    hearing.
  • Has teacher been contacting your witnesses?
    Intimidation? Other misconduct arisen since the
    charges filed?

58
If Necessary, Amend Accusation to State
Additional Facts or Charges
  • However, doing so will most likely cause the
    other side to request, and obtain a postponement
    of the hearing, to help prepare a defense against
    any new matter raised.
  • District counsel can also move to amend the
    accusation to conform to proof at the hearing
    itself.

59
Settlement
  • Usually, the presiding ALJ will require at least
    one settlement conference (with different Judge
    than the one hearing the case).
  • Most cases settle for simple economic/reality
    reasons district does not want to have to pay
    thousands of dollars in attorney fees and costs,
    and teacher does not want to create a public,
    written record of their misconduct.

60
Settlement (contd)
  • Good documentation/investigation/preparation
    often leads to fast settlement on favorable
    terms.
  • Do a careful cost/benefit analysis what is in
    the districts interests?
  • Draft the settlement agreement carefully to
    encompass and prevent as much future trouble as
    possible.

61
Settlement (contd)
  • Get teachers full release of claims against
    district (prevents future litigation by the
    teacher).
  • This may or may not prevent litigation by third
    parties (students and parents) against district
    and/or teacher.

62
Settlement (contd)
  • Settlement terms generally cannot be made
    confidential.
  • Resignation under circumstances related to one or
    more allegations of misconduct must be reported
    to CTC per Title 5 regulations ( 80300 et
    seq.) within 30 days.

63
Attend Pre-Hearing Conference
  • Purpose is to clarify and narrow issues at
    hearing, to make the process more efficient, if
    possible.
  • Parties exchange final lists of witnesses and
    evidence.
  • Make any last minute motions requests for
    rulings.
  • Settlement usually also discussed.

64
Dismissal Hearing
  • Depending on facts, lasts from 2 days to 30 days.
  • Everything is recorded by court reporter (creates
    record for any appeal).
  • Despite informal nature of hearing compared to
    court proceeding, its usually quite tense and
    acrimonious prepare for cross-examination.

65
Dismissal Hearing (contd)
  • A lot is at stake for both parties economically
    politically emotionally.
  • Decision is written, and is issued in 2 to 8
    weeks (100 day max.) depending on size of case
    and ALJ caseload.

66
Dismissal Hearing (contd)
  • Appeal is by motion for reconsideration within 30
    days, or by request for appeal to Superior Court
    within 60 days.
  • When any testimony or evidence concerns private
    pupil records or other private information, the
    ALJ may order that part of the hearing closed and
    evidence sealed (made a non-public record).

67
Dismissal Hearing (contd)
  • Note districts have some breathing room on
    process they are allowed to make
    non-substantive procedural errors in the
    process and still get a dismissal decision, so
    long as the errors are not prejudicial errors.
  • Hopefully, this prevents a decision in favor of a
    teacher on mere technicalities.

68
CPC Decision
  • CPC decision must be by majority vote and is
    limited to (1) employee should be dismissed (2)
    employee should be suspended without pay or (3)
    employee should not be dismissed or suspended.

69
If Teacher Wins
  • Gets immediate reinstatement plus back-pay, if
    any was withheld.
  • District must pay full administrative costs of
    hearing.

70
If District Wins
  • If dismissal is for immoral conduct or conviction
    of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude,
    the Board must send the CTC and County Board a
    full transcript of hearing, and request that any
    certificate for the Teacher be revoked if the
    employee is not ordered reinstated after appeal
    Education Code section 44947.

71
If District Wins (contd)
  • District must pay full administrative costs of
    hearing.
  • Report dismissal to CTC within 30 days.
  • There is always a possibility of a lawsuit or
    other challenge by teacher alleging wrongful
    termination violation of rights, etc.

72
AB 215 Egregious Conduct(Effective 1/1/15)
  • Adds egregious misconduct as a cause for
    dismissal under Education Code section 44932.
  • Egregious misconduct is a form of immoral conduct
    and is defined by particular offenses
  • Education Code section 44010 (sex offenses),
  • Education Code section 44011 (drug offenses), and
  • Penal Code sections 11165.2 to 11165.6 (child
    neglect, endangerment, abuse).

73
AB 215 Egregious Conduct(Effective 1/1/15)
  • Adds Education Code section 44934.1 for
    processing egregious conduct cases
  • Requires service on the employee of written
    notice of the districts intent to dismiss, along
    with a statement of charges, and allows for
    immediate unpaid suspension pending dismissal
    under newly added Education Code section 44939.1.
  • Notice of dismissal may be served at any time
    during the year. (Educ. Code 44936(a).)

74
AB 215 Egregious Misconduct New Dismissal
Process
  • Adds Education Code section 44944.1 as exclusive
    means for dismissal based solely on charges of
    egregious misconduct. (Educ. Code 44944.1(b).)
  • Hearing conducted by single ALJ instead of
    3-member CPC panel. (Educ. Code 44944.1(c).)
  • Hearing must begin within 60 days of employees
    demand for hearing and OAH must prioritize these
    cases over other dismissal cases. (Educ. Code
    44944.1(d)(1)(A).)

75
AB 215 Egregious Misconduct New Dismissal
Process
  • Evidence may be admitted regarding egregious
    misconduct that occurred more than 4 years prior
    to the initiation of the proceedings. (Educ. Code
    44944.1(d)(3).)

76
AB 215 Egregious Misconduct New Dismissal
Process
  • If ALJ determines employee should be dismissed or
    suspended, the district and State share expenses
    of hearing (including ALJ) and district and
    employee pay own attorney fees.
  • IF ALJ determines employee should not be
    dismissed or suspended, district pays costs of
    hearing and reasonable attorneys fees for
    employee.

77
AB 215 Changes to Existing Law
  • Eliminates the May 15- Sept 15 blackout period
    for serving dismissal charges for all causes of
    action other than unsatisfactory performance.
  • Charges based on unsatisfactory performance may
    only be served during the instructional year of
    the schoolsite where the teacher is physically
    employed.
  • Hearing must be commenced within 6 months and
    completed within 7 months.

78
AB 215 Changes to Existing Law
  • CPC can be waived by mutual agreement so that
    heard by single ALJ.
  • Discovery now limited to depositions, initial
    disclosures Pre-hearing disclosures.

79
AB 215 Changes to Existing Law (unpaid
suspension not based on egregious misconduct)
  • Allows employees who have been immediately
    suspended without pay to file a motion with OAH
    for reversal of the suspension within 30 days and
    a hearing must be held within 30 days of filing
    motion. (Educ. Code 44939(c).)
  • ALJ must issue an order within 15 days of the
    hearing and if the suspension is not upheld, the
    district must provide the employee with lost
    wages, benefits, and compensation within 14 days
    of service of the order.

80
AB 215 Changes to Existing Law
  • Adds Education Code section 44939.5
    which prohibits districts from entering
    settlement agreements to remove credible
    complaints of, substantiated investigations into,
    or discipline for egregious misconduct from
    personnel files.
  • Districts must disclose they made a report to the
    CTC about egregious misconduct when other school
    employers inquire about a potential applicant.
    (Educ. Code 44939.5.)

81
Amended Title V, section 80303 Regulation
  • Effective July 1, 2014.
  • Section 80303 requires superintendents to report
    change of certificated employment status as a
    result of misconduct to the CTC.
  • Prior language often resulted in over-reporting
    to include misconduct such as unsatisfactory
    performance or even layoffs.
  • Prior law also failed to provide guidance to
    superintendents as to documentation which must be
    submitted.

82
Amended Title V, section 80303 Regulation
  • Provides CTC must be notified whenever, as a
    result of misconduct or while an allegation of
    misconduct is pending, an employee is dismissed
    or non-reelected resigns, is suspended or placed
    on unpaid admin leave (as a final adverse
    employment action) retires or is otherwise
    terminated.
  • Otherwise terminated shall not include or be
    interpreted to include a change of status that is
    solely for unsatisfactory performance or a
    layoff or reduction in force.

83
Amended Title V, section 80303 Regulation
  • Requires all known information about each
    alleged act of misconduct organized as follows
  • Name of credential holder current address of
    credential holder name of reporting district
    name of last school or district assignment
    explanation of the allegation of misconduct or
    pending allegation of misconduct current contact
    information for all persons who may have
    information relating to the alleged misconduct
    and any and all documentation related to the
    case.

84
Amended Title V, section 80303 Regulation
  • Failure to make a report constitutes
    unprofessional conduct.
  • CTC must now investigate a superintendent who
    fails to file required report.

85
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