Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 28 - EDUCATION › Part CLXXI - Bulletin 745-Louisiana Teaching Authorizations of School Personnel › Chapter 1 - Teaching Authorizations › Section CLXXI-105 - Suspension and Revocation of Teaching Authorizations for Criminal Offenses

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 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.