Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. A Louisiana
teaching authorization shall be suspended and revoked if the individual holding
the teaching authorization has been convicted of any felony offense whatsoever.
If the Louisiana teaching authorization of an individual is expired, and the
individual has been convicted of a felony offense, this information shall be
reported to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education
and Certification (NASDTEC) Clearinghouse by the LDE. Such individuals will be
notified per the process outlined in this Section.
B. When the department is notified that any
teacher has been convicted of a specific crime:
1. departmental staff shall attempt to
contact the educator to inform him/her that the department has information
regarding a criminal conviction and is proceeding under this policy to suspend
the teaching authorization;
2. the
teacher shall have 10 days from the date of notification to provide
verification that he/she has not been convicted of a criminal offense. This
opportunity for response is intended as a check against mistaken identity or
other incorrect information and the requested verification may be provided
through a telephone conversation or written correspondence;
3. if the teacher cannot be reached or if
his/her employment status cannot be determined, suspension of the authorization
shall proceed, as will all other steps in the process outlined in this
policy;
4. if the department
determines that there is evidence that an educator has been convicted of a
criminal offense, the teaching authorization issued to that educator shall be
suspended. The board, the educator, and the employing school system shall be
notified that the teaching authorization has been suspended pending official
board action per revocation proceedings;
5. the educator shall be notified by any
appropriate means of notice that his/her teaching authorization has been
suspended and that the teaching authorization will be revoked unless
documentation is provided verifying that he/she was not convicted of the crime.
The educator shall provide copies of any documentation that verifies his/her
identity and refutes the existence of a criminal conviction;
6. if the conviction upon which a teaching
authorization has been suspended or revoked is reversed, such action shall be
communicated to the board through documentation provided by the applicant. The
board may receive such information and order reinstatement of the teaching
authorization;
7. upon official
action by the board, any educator whose teaching authorization has been revoked
shall be notified of such action. The correspondence shall include instructions
for and identification of the date when the individual may apply to the board
for reinstatement of his/her teaching authorization.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:6(A)(10), (11), and (15),
17:7(6),
17:10,
17:22(6),
17:391.1-391.10, and
17:411.
