For the Second Time, Lawmakers Failed to Fix California’s Warning System for Teacher Misconduct

California lawmakers have failed for the second time this year to create a searchable database that would help schools screen out teachers reported for misconduct. Per ProPublica, Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi proposed the bill after an earlier investigation revealed that delays and opacity in the current system allowed educators with substantiated misconduct complaints to get hired elsewhere. The bill collapsed following opposition from teachers unions and the state licensing agency, which warned that the system could unfairly subject teachers to career consequences for unproven allegations. The California Federation of Teachers said it would support a database limited to substantiated reports of egregious misconduct, but opposed language that included less-certain accusations. The irony: California already passed a database in twenty twenty-five for school support staff like bus drivers and custodians who face misconduct complaints, but teachers—who work directly with students—remain uncovered. Amid federal scrutiny over how schools handle sexual misconduct accusations, the state's patchwork system leaves schools unable to easily screen applicants for a history of reported misconduct.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton