Arizona tightens conduct rules
Accused teachers could be removed quickly
The Arizona State Board of Education has approved a new mechanism to get teachers accused of misconduct out of classrooms more quickly.
The newly approved rule will allow the board to issue an emergency suspension of a teacher's certificate at the beginning of an investigation into allegations of misconduct, if the claims are serious enough.
The rule is intended to force a teacher out of a classroom almost immediately if he or she is arrested or accused of serious sexual misconduct. Before, the board could only suspend or revoke a teacher's certificate at the end of an investigation.
The change follows an investigation by The Arizona Republic and KJZZ, the Phoenix public radio station, that revealed vulnerabilities in the state's system of investigating and disciplining teachers accused of sexual misconduct.
Taxed state education investigators carry caseloads as high as 150, prolonging the time it takes to recommend the State Board discipline a teacher accused of misconduct.
Lead investigator Dave Spelich told several state lawmakers in November that his department is "drowning" in cases.
Efforts to close loopholes are happening both at the State Board and the Arizona Legislature. Several lawmakers have said they intend to propose legislation when the session begins in January to tighten the discipline system.
Emergency suspensions
The rule approved Friday is meant to prevent someone from teaching if it could pose a risk to children.
Claims of teacher sexual misconduct and other offenses start at the Arizona Department of Education's investigative unit. If an investigator finds the claim to be credible, the findings in the case are forwarded to the State Board of Education for discipline.
The State Board votes on discipline: A teacher’s certificate can be revoked for five years, or permanently in the case of a criminal offense, or an educator may face a suspension for a num
ber of years.
At any point in the process, an educator can voluntarily surrender his or her certificate.
More changes possible
State lawmakers are also mulling changes to teacher discipline procedures. Ahead of the session, lawmakers are already working on proposed legislation.
Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, told The Republic that in the upcoming legislative session he will advocate for as many as 12 more investigators to address the current caseload and to allow for investigations of noncertified school employees.
The system to remove offenders from the classroom currently applies only to certified educators.
It does not cover more than 6,000 noncertified Arizona teachers in district and charter schools or other noncertified school employees, such as bus drivers and classroom aides, whowork with children every day.
The State Board asked lawmakers to introduce legislation that would give the investigative unit and board members the power to discipline some noncertified school employees, including coaches and student teachers.