Professional Practices Investigations in Education: Ensuring Integrity and Standards
Discover the role of the Office of Professional Practices Investigations in safeguarding students and upholding educational standards. Learn about reporting misconduct, license investigations, legal frameworks, and the application process for educator licensure in Massachusetts.
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Presentation Transcript
Educator License Actions: Report to Board of ESE October 24, 2017
Office of Professional Practices Investigations (OPPI): Mission Protect students from potentially harmful educators Maintain the integrity of the education profession Provide due process to licensed educators who are alleged to have committed misconduct Preserve high quality standards for 96,000 MA licensed educators 2 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Legal Framework Commissioner may suspend, revoke or limit a license if the licensee: 1. Lacks sound moral character 2. Pleads guilty to or is convicted of a crime 3. Commits gross misconduct or negligence 4. Is dismissed from a school for just cause 5. Misrepresents their history on application 6. Has another professional license revoked, suspended or surrendered See G.L. c. 71, 38G; 603 C.M.R. 7.15(8)(a). 3
Reporting Misconduct Sources of Reports: School administrators Dismissals, non-renewals and resignations (for cited reasons) Licensees Other sources Media, law enforcement, DCF, school staff, parents
Employment vs. Licensure District State 5 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
What do we investigate? Boundary violations Grooming students for inappropriate relationships Sexual relationships with students Inflicting physical harm on students MCAS cheating Criminal conduct Inappropriate language and acts Substance abuse 6 6
Licensee Investigations 7 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Applications for Licensure Applicants must disclose: Criminal court appearances and convictions Child neglect or abuse findings Employment dismissals for cause Applicants also must certify: There are no misrepresentations on the application To disclose any future changes to their answers 8
Applicant Investigations 800 licensure applicant reviews per year Investigation: interviews, contact references, obtain court and employment records, track professional discipline Recommend licensure or denial 9 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Background Checks MA Criminal Background Checks (CORI) Cost absorbed by the state Free for public school educators & volunteers Must be repeated at least every 3 years Federal Criminal Background Checks All public & private school employees and contractors, phased in by September 2016 License holders Fee: $55 Others (i.e. cafeteria workers, bus drivers): $35 10 See G.L. c. 71, sec. 38R, as amended Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Data, Jan. 2012-July 2017 License holders: 371 licensees sanctioned (educator license revoked, suspended, etc.) Applicants: 74 significant investigations; 17 applicants denied Total cases closed: 448 Total open investigations: 326 Questions, discussion 11 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
