Retroactive background check requirements could result in loss of veteran teachers
They may have taught in Southwest Florida schools for years, but a new law could mean a pink slip for veteran teachers.
Teachers, administrators and others now fall under the Ethics and Education Act, which was passed by the Legislature and went into effect July 1.
The new law requires retroactive checks of the criminal records of teachers and employees in contact with students daily, and bars from employment anyone with any felony conviction for a variety of specified crimes.
Some of those felonies are obvious disqualifications for employment around minors: sexual crimes against children, abuse and neglect and other violent crimes. Still, other crimes that are now left to the judgment of the district will be automatic disqualifications for employment.
Though everyone seemed to agree that student safety is paramount, some worry that the retroactive checks could end otherwise stellar careers over a mistake that might have been made before the person was a school district employee.
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