KSDE Strikes at and threatens Many More teachers unfairly with Big Fingerprint costs

Kansas News: KNEA rightfully lets the KSDE know it is going way overboard and needs to stop.

Pay attention and contact the KSDE hearing workers with your voice!



KSDE Strikes at and threatens Many More teachers unfairly with Big Fingerprint costs

Please note that I had written last week of an anonymous Kansan educator who has been unable to get his renewal in a timely manner already. She has waited 8 months already and doesn’t expect to have the matter settled till July of this year. This is due to the KBI fumbling the fingerprints.

Yours,

KAS
http://eslkevin.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/ksde-a-semi-paperless-institution-that-is-understaffed-and-causing-stress-for-elderly-and-disabled-teachers/

ACTION NEEDED – SPECIAL EDITION

http://www.knea.org/stateboardnews/2011-03-31-st-bd-news.html

On Tuesday, April 12, at 1:30 pm, the State Board will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to educator licensure regulations.

As reported in the December, 2010 SBN, one of the changes would require every license holder to have a fingerprint and background check at every license renewal.

KNEA opposes this change and needs you to contact State Board members before the public hearing and ask them to oppose this change.

Why?
*We agree that student safety is paramount. Students must be safe in order to learn.
*This change is not about student safety. It is about imposing a multi-million-dollar “solution” on 70,000 license holders in Kansas because two existing requirements aren’t being enforced:
KSA 72-1397 requires county and district attorneys to report to the State Board within 30 days following a license holder’s conviction/diversion for activities that could result in suspension or revocation of a license, and;
KAR 91-22-1a requires that the chief administrative officer of an accredited public or private school “promptly” notify the Commissioner when any license holder is “dismissed, resigns, or is otherwise separated from employment…for any act…” that could result in license suspension or revocation.

Click here to ask your State Board member to oppose the change to 91-1-214. Ask them to:
*Enforce the law and the regulation first.

*Notification within 30 days, or “promptly” is a better way to address student safety than a fingerprint/background check every 5 years.

KNEA is ready and willing to work with KSDE and others, including the Attorney General and superintendents, to ensure that current reporting requirements are being followed.

Did you know:
>Less than 1,000th of 1% of Kansas license holders have been referred to the Professional Practices Commission within the last 5 years for involvement in incidents involving inappropriate actions with children/students.
>Currently, the KBI charges $50 for fingerprint/background checks.

KNEA Legislative Contacts

Blake West, President
Peg Dunlap, Director, Instructional Advocacy
Mark Desetti, Director, Legislative and Political Advocacy
Terry Forsyth, Director, Political Action

The KNEA Lobby Team consists of elected leaders and staff. The Lobby Team welcomes member feedback on issues before the Legislature and on this site.