CTC backs teacher misconduct bill
California’s standards board for educator training and professional conduct added its support to legislation that would rewrite the rules implementingsanctions against school officials who fail to report changes in an employee’s work status while an allegation of misconduct is pending.
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing backed AB 449 by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, after the author dropped a provision that would have eliminated existing criminal penalties for a principal, teacher, employee or school officer who fails to make required reports to the state.
The bill specifies that failure to make this report constitutes unprofessional conduct and could subject the school administrator to adverse action by the commission, as well as criminal penalties of between $500 and $1,000. In addition, AB 449 makes it clear that a change in employment status due to unsatisfactory performance or a reduction in workforce is not an allegation of misconduct for review by the CTC.
According to an Assembly analysis of the bill, the author believes that “existing law does not grant the CTC clear authority to investigate or hold a superintendent accountable for failure to make a report when a school district takes employment action against a credential holder as a result of an allegation of misconduct,” creating reporting delays