A.G. Gancarski
Teachers aren’t perfect. And up until now, the process to remove teachers accused of criminal offenses hasn’t been either.
That could change if Gov. Ron DeSantis approves legislation that has cleared the House. The measure would impose reporting requirements and mandate the removal of teachers accused of a wide variety of crimes detailed in Florida Statutes.
SB 1374, passed by the House in a unanimous vote after being substituted for the version carried by Republican Rep. Will Robinson, requires more detailed reporting on teachers accused of crimes effective July 1.
Teachers and administrators would be required to self-report the accusations within 48 hours of arrest, and would also be compelled to report convictions and rulings for any offense except a minor traffic violation in the same time frame.
Districts would have to remove the teachers from classrooms within 24 hours of the notification. Teachers would be suspended with pay and reassigned to duties where they don’t interact with students, with a disciplinary hearing required within a year of the removal from the classroom.
One comment
Paul Passarelli
April 29, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Yeesh! Much as I loath the idea of any teachers that may have committed criminal act being maintained in the classroom, I am disturbed by the idea that a mere accusation is sufficient to bring the weight of the government down upon some innocent teacher’s shoulders!
I’m just as concerned that the school district is the sole authority to hold a disciplinary hearing that might reinstate a dirty teacher summarily, as opposed to the one-year mandate. Why? Because the teacher’s union might exert undue influence to pressure reinstating bad actors until they are formally convicted or plead out.
I hope that if this passes the districts will do the right thing in *ALL* situations.