Lawmakers Propose Measures To Reduce Teacher Sexual Misconduct

The Indiana Statehouse. (Photo Credit: Jimmy Emerson/Flickr)

After a number of high profile teacher sexual misconduct cases and a low ranking on a national “teacher conduct” scorecard, state lawmakers formed a committee to recommend a plan to protect Indiana’s children from sexual predators.

The committee established a set of recommendations this Tuesday that it hopes will become law.

Lawmakers say tougher measures could protect the state’s children from predatory school employees. Under new recommendations, educators convicted of certain felonies would automatically lose their licenses. The department of child services would be required to notify a school if any employee is involved in an active case. And every district would need to background check every employee every 5 years.

Republican representative Bob Behning says continued checks on the same people are necessary.

“Sometimes a lot of these offenses don’t get reported back to districts,” Behning says. “The district may not be aware.”

Current law only requires background checks for fully licensed staff, like teachers and principals, once, when they’re hired.

Lawmakers will present these recommendations during the 2017 General Assembly, which begins in January.