What happens after a teacher is accused

• Allegation brought by a student, a parent, information technology in the case of inappropriate Internet activities, or other onlooker, such as in the case of inappropriate e-mails.

• Principal and school district investigate (standards and policies vary).

District

• District may find nothing; investigation stops there.

• In cases of child abuse, encompassing physical or sexual abuse, any kind of touching or emotional abuse, district must notify Division of Child and Family Services or law enforcement and State Office of Education. Independent investigations follow.

• District makes employment decision. Must report immoral behavior and unprofessional conduct or incompetence resulting in more than a week's suspension to the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission. (UPPAC)

State

• UPPAC takes referrals from anyone; complaint forms at www.usoe.k12.ut.us/uppac.

• Investigates, flags state credentials database and notifies teacher in question.

• UPPAC investigator recommends action to the commission. A letter of warning may be sent to the teacher and school district. Further action is taken for more serious offenses.

• Teacher in question can request a hearing; findings reported to commission.

• Suspension and revocation recommendations forwarded to the State Board of Education for action.

• State administrative code requires State Office of Education to post reprimands, suspensions, probations on the statewide electronic credentialing files accessed by school districts, and notify national NASDTEC Education Information Clearinghouse of suspensions, revocations and cases when educators surrenders a license or allows it to lapse in the face of allegations. Parents do not have access to www.usoe.k12.ut.us/uppac.

• Investigates, flags state credentials database and notifies teacher in question.

• UPPAC investigator recommends action to the commission. A letter of warning may be sent to the teacher and school district. Further action is taken for more serious offenses.

• Teacher in question can request a hearing; findings reported to commission.

• Suspension and revocation recommendations forwarded to the State Board of Education for action.

• State administrative code requires State Office of Education to post reprimands, suspensions, probations on the statewide electronic credentialing files accessed by school districts, and notify national NASDTEC Education Information Clearinghouse of suspensions, revocations and cases when educators surrenders a license or allows it to lapse in the face of allegations. Parents do not have access to these databases.