Arizona Professional Practices Advisory Committee
What is the Professional Practices Advisory Committee with the Arizona Board of Education?
Before I go into the advisory committee, let’s talk about how you may become involved with this group of individuals. Suppose you’re a teacher and you’re teaching public school K-12. Then, it’s a requirement for you to have a license under Arizona with the state board of education.
Suppose there are any complaints of unprofessional conduct as a teacher against your license. In that case, you’ll be under investigation.
Now, to backtrack, it usually starts at your school level. Suppose there’s an allegation of unprofessional conduct with students: health and safety, and other staff. It can also be an educator’s misconduct or unprofessional conduct. That is even what you do outside of school. It could be criminal activity, a DUI, or things like that.
Links of Interest:
Committee Involved in the Investigation
Then your school committee is likely to investigate. And they may decide that it stops there if it’s not substantiated. However, the committee will likely pass discipline to you if it is confirmed. That might require you to resign, or they may terminate your employment agreement.
And as mandated reporters, they’ll likely report you to the state board of education. It’s probably the way your license could be in danger.
Suppose parents, fellow educators, and students feel like there’s any unprofessional conduct. Then, they may all report to the committee of the state board of education. Once a complaint against you as an educator starts, the state board of education committee will let you know. You’ll receive an official letter informing you that you’re under investigation.
Suppose they feel like there are any substantiated claims. The Advisory Committee will conduct an administrative hearing in that case. They are a group of seven individuals, there are two groups, and they alternate.
During the hearing, you may represent yourself or have counsel represent you on your behalf. You can put forth evidence. You can submit exhibits, and you can also examine witnesses, have character witnesses, and things like that.
Now, the Advisory Committee may also do that. And after the hearing happens, they will have a finding of fact and conclusions of law.
State Board of Education Has the Final Say
Then, they’ll recommend it to the committee of the state board of education. That is if they feel your license needs discipline. They have four options:
- Letter of censure
- Suspension
- Suspension with conditions
- Revocation of your license.
That means your license undergoes revocation for a period. Once the committee has decided, they’ll pass that along to the state board of education committee. Then, they’ll either affirm, amend, or deny the recommendation of the Professional Practices Advisory Committee.
And that’s where this group ends. They conduct the hearing and put on evidence. They’ll find out if they feel like there should be any discipline. Then, they’ll suggest that.
I recommend having an attorney help you through this process because it’s serious. It’s your license to practice and to be an educator. So, this could affect you in the future.
Arizona Board of Education Attorney
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