How do I get certified copies of my court records?
Certified records or records that are stamped by the clerk of court as being authentic, may be obtained by contacting the Clerk of Courts in the court which rendered the conviction.
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What are unemployable offenses? What does unemployable mean?
ORC 3319.39 says that no board of education of a school district, no governing board of an educational service center, and no governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall employ a person as a person responsible for the care, custody or control of a child is the person has previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed, unless the person has been rehabilitated pursuant to rules adopted by the Ohio Department of Education.
Rehabilitation Criteria
If an educator or applicant for initial licensure has been convicted of one of the below listed offenses that is not an absolute bar offense listed in ORC 3319.31(C), they have to prove that they are rehabilitated pursuant to OAC 3301-20-01 in order to obtain or retain a license.
Criminal Offenses Listed in Ohio Revised Code §3319.39(“Unemployable Offenses”)
Homicide and Assault
2903.01 - Aggravated murder
2903.02 - Murder
2903.03 - Voluntary manslaughter
2903.04 - Involuntary manslaughter
2903.11 - Felonious assault
2903.12 - Aggravated assault
2903.13 - Assault
2903.16 - Not providing for impaired person
2903.21 - Aggravated menacing
2903.34 - Patient abuse; neglect
Kidnapping and extortion
2905.01 - Kidnapping
2905.02 - Abduction
2905.05 - Criminal child enticement
Sex offenses
2907.02 - Rape
2907.03 - Sexual battery
2907.04 - Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
2907.05 - Gross sexual imposition
2907.06 - Sexual imposition
2907.07 - Importuning
2907.08 - Voyeurism
2907.09 - Public indecency
2907.21 - Compelling prostitution
2907.22 - Promoting prostitution
2907.23 - Procuring
2907.25 - Prostitution
2907.31 - Disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile
2907.32 - Pandering obscenity
2907.321 - Pandering obscenity involving a minor
2907.322 - Pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor
2907.323 - Illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material of performance
Robbery, burglary, trespassing and safecracking
2911.01 - Aggravated robbery
2911.02 - Robbery
2911.11 - Aggravated burglary
2911.12 - Burglary
Crimes against family
2919.12 - Unlawful abortion
2919.22 - Endangering children
2919.24 - Contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child
2919.25 - Domestic violence
Conspiracy, attempt and complicity; weapons control; corrupt
2923.12 - CCW
2923.13 - Having weapon while under disability
2923.161 - Improperly discharging firearm at or in habitation; school related offenses
Drug offenses
2925.02 - Corrupting another with drugs
2925.03 - Trafficking in drugs
2925.04 - Illegal manufacture of drugs or cultivation of marijuana
2925.05 - Funding of drug or marijuana trafficking
2925.06 - Illegal administration or distribution of anabolic steroids
2925.11 - Possession of drugs – any violation that is not a minor drug possession offense
Labeling of hazardous substances
3716.11 - Placing harmful objects in food/confection
Former criminal statutes (pre 07/01/1996)
2905.04 - Child stealing (before 07/01/96)
2919.23 - Interference of custody (if a violation of this statute would have been a violation of section 2905.04 as it existed prior to 07/01/1996 had the violation been committed prior to that date)
2907.12 - Felonious sexual penetration (former section)
Reference to R.C. 3319.31
No board and no governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school shall employ a teacher who previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
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What is a Voluntary Surrender?
When a licensed/certified educator voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently agrees in writing to permanently give up a license or certificate and gives up all rights to hold a position which requires a license or certificate issued by the state board. OAC 3301-73-22(B)
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What is a Consent Agreement?
(ORC 3319.311(D) – a contract between an educator/pre-service educator who is subject to discipline under ORC 3319.31 and the SBOE. The purpose of a consent agreement is to formulate a mutually agreeable disposition of a disciplinary matter without going through a formal administrative hearing (link to hearing brochure). The consent agreement establishes the terms and conditions upon which the educator/pre-service educator’s disciplinary matter will be resolved. The terms may include periodic reports form the employing school district regarding professional conduct of an educator, completion of continuing education classes, random drug screenings, community service or a period of time that the license is suspended. For specific terms of a consent agreement see OAC 3301-73-23(A)
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What is disciplinary action?
ORC 3319.31 grants the state board of education authority to deny an application for a teaching license or to suspend, limit or revoke an existing teaching license. The grounds for the State Board of Education to pursue disciplinary action are listed in 3319.31. There are several types of disciplinary actions that the SBOE can pursue to eliminate unprofessional conduct from the teaching profession. The Board can issue a warning letter, a letter of reprimand/admonishment, negotiate a consent agreement or initiate formal disciplinary proceedings. The disciplinary action pursued is based upon the nature of the allegations/criminal conviction and the information gathered during an investigation.
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What is the Office of Professional Conduct (OPC) hearing process?
If the nature of the allegation or criminal conviction warrant formal disciplinary proceedings or if a consent agreement cannot be reached, OPC recommends to the state board of education that it deny an educator/pre-service educator’s application, or suspend, revoke or limit and educator’s license. To initiate a formal disciplinary action OPC on behalf of the state superintendent of instruction sends a letter to the educator notifying him/her of the SBOE’s intent to deny the application or to suspend, limit or revoke the educator’s license or certificate. Pursuant to ORC Chapter 119, the educator may request an administrative hearing within 30 days from the date the letter of intent was mailed to the educator (via certified mail.) Rules governing filings with regard to administrative hearings are contained in OAC 3301-73-06(A)-(K).
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Is the district aware of OPC involvement?
Current and former employing school districts may be contacted during the course of an investigation, however all information that is learned by OPC throughout the entirety of the investigation will remain confidential. This information will only be known by OPC, the individual, and the source of information. Any disciplinary action taken pursuant to the investigation is not confidential.
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What is a broken contract?
A teacher may terminate a contract any time between the end of the school year session and July 10th by giving five days’ written notice to the employing school board. A teacher shall not terminate a contract before the end of the school year or after July 10th without the consent of the board of education. If a teacher terminates a contract in any manner other than as provided for above, the employing school board may file a complaint with the State Board of Education. After an investigation by the State Board of Education, the license of the teacher who terminated their contract may be suspended for not more than one year. ORC 3319.15
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What is the proficiency test misconduct that OPC would investigate?
OPC will investigate allegations that a teacher assisted a student in cheating on a proficiency test in any way, including revealing any specific question that the teacher knows is part of the proficiency test. If, after the investigation, OPC finds that the licensed teacher has aided a student in cheating on the proficiency test in any way, the teacher’s license shall be suspended for one year. Helping a student to cheat on a proficiency exam in any way is also grounds for contract termination. ORC 3319.151
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How do I make a complaint about a teacher?
A formal, written complaint should be forwarded to the school district; follow-up with the district, and go up the chain of command – principal, superintendent, school board.
If all the options have not worked, the parent can send the complaint with specific details in writing to our office. OPC will then review the information to determine if we will open a case and investigate the allegations based our grounds for disciplinary action ORC 3319.31
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How long does it take for OPC to receive any relevant records (e.g. court records, police records)?
With OPC receiving records it can take an average of a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the sources from where the records are requested. For a more timely turn around it is advised for the respondent to request their own court and police records in person.
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What is available for public records requests?
Records kept by any public office, including, but not limited to, state, county, city, village, township, and school district units, and records pertaining to the delivery of educational services by an alternative school in Ohio kept by a nonprofit or for profit entity operating such alternative school pursuant to 3313.533 of the Revised Code. ORC 149.43 For State Board and Department of Education purposes, the following are public records: consent agreement; letter of admonishment; notice of opportunity of administrative hearing; exhibits offered into evidence in an administrative hearing; administrative hearing transcript; superintendent’s proposed resolution; report and recommendation of a hearing officer; objections to the hearing officer’s report and recommendation; state board’s final resolution. All other information obtained in the course of an investigation, including but not limited to all offers of settlement, proposals of adjustment and proposed stipulations not agreed to are not public records and shall remain confidential. OAC 3301-73-04(A) – (G)
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