Policy 6213.1 – Disciplining of a Tenured Teacher or Certified Personnel

The District may discipline tenured teachers and certain certified personnel in accordance with applicable law, including, without limitation, Education Law Sections 3012, 3020-a, and 3020-b; Commissioner’s regulations; or applicable contract provisions.

Ineffective Personnel

The District or Board may bring incompetence charges against a teacher or building principal who receives two or more consecutive ineffective ratings under the APPR; the District or Board must bring incompetence charges against anyone who receives three consecutive ineffective APPR ratings. A single hearing officer from the American Arbitration Association’s labor arbitration panel will govern the competency hearing. The hearing may be public or private, at the employee’s discretion. The employee will have a reasonable opportunity to defend himself/herself, but will not be required to testify. Each party has the right to be represented by counsel, to subpoena witnesses, to cross-examine witnesses, and to make motions or applications. There will be a full and fair disclosure of witnesses and evidence to be offered by both the District and the employee. A record of the proceeding will be kept.

Allegations of Abuse

The Board may suspend, without pay, an employee charged with physically or sexually abusing a student pending an expedited probable-cause hearing. A single hearing officer will conduct the probable-cause hearing.

Child Witnesses

A child under 14 may be allowed to testify through live, two-way, closed-circuit television if the hearing officer determines by clear and convincing evidence that the child would suffer serious mental or emotional harm that would substantially impair his/her ability to communicate if required to testify live, and that using closed-circuit television would diminish the likelihood or extent of the child suffering serious mental or emotional harm. In making this decision, the hearing officer will consider applicable factors listed in Criminal Procedure Law Section 65.20, including: whether the offense was particularly heinous, the child’s age and vulnerability, the child’s susceptibility to psychological harm due to an underlying physical or mental condition, whether the accused occupied a position of authority over the child, if the offense charged was part of an ongoing course of conduct committed by the accused against the child over an extended period of time, use of a dangerous or deadly weapon, whether the child suffered serious physical injury, threats made against the child, the accused’s access to the child, and expert testimony that the child would be particularly susceptible to psychological harm if required to testify in open court or to be in the physical presence of the accused.

Automatic Revocation of Teacher and Administrative Certificates by the Commissioner ofEducation

The Commissioner will revoke and annul the certificate of a teacher, teaching assistant, pupil personnel services professional, school administrator or supervisor, or superintendent convicted of:

  1. A sex offense for which registration as a sex offender is required under the Sex Offender Registration Act; or
  2. Any other violent felony offense committed against a child when the child was the intended victim of the offense.

These offenses include, but are not limited to, sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, rape, statutory rape, assault, various other criminal sexual acts, and certain kidnapping offenses. Annulment and revocation will be conducted in accordance with Education Law Section 305(7-a).

In addition, the Commissioner will revoke and annul the certificate of a school district administrator, school administrator or supervisor, or school business administrator convicted of fraud under Penal Law Section 195.20 which makes it a Class E felony to obtain government property, services, or other resources in excess of $1,000:

  1. Through a systemic ongoing course of conduct with the intent to defraud; or
  2. By false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises; or
  3. To make use of the property, services, or other resources for private business or other compensable nongovernment purposes.

Annulment and revocation will be conducted in accordance with Education Law Section 305(7-b).

Criminal Procedure Law §§ 65.00, 65.20, 65.30, and 380.95
Education Law §§ 305(7-a), 305(7-b), 2573(8), 2590-j(7), 3012, 3020-a, and 3020-b
Penal Law § 195.20
8 NYCRR Subpart 82-3
Correction Law Article 6-C

Adopted: 4/25/01
Revised: 4/26/17