Overview:
Texas has launched a public dashboard that allows parents to track teacher misconduct reports, investigations and punishments, although a group of teachers wants a clear distinction between confirmed and under-investigations.
The Texas Education Agency launched a new online dashboard Monday that allows parents and the public to track misconduct reports, investigations and disciplinary actions involving state teachers, part of a broader campaign the agency says is aimed at transparency and student safety.
I Teacher Misconduct Dashboard provides users with access to misconduct reports submitted to the TEA, agency investigations, actions taken by the State Board of Teacher Credentialing, and government placements Do not hire a Registry. The agency said the interactive tool was developed with parents and taxpayers in mind.
The dashboard breaks down investigations into categories, including allegations of fraud, inappropriate relationships between teachers and students and other conduct the agency says could affect student safety or violate professional standards. A separate tab displays the sanctions imposed on offenders and allows users to check the placement of the Non-Employment Register for a financial year.
“Transparency and public trust in our education system are critical to ensuring our schools can fulfill their mission of educating the next generation,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement. He said the dashboard and other related resources demonstrate the institution’s commitment to student safety “and the integrity of those who are privileged to work in our classrooms.”
A comprehensive “Student Protection Resource Center”.
The dashboard is embedded in the new Student Safety Resource Center, which TEA describes as a repository of information and tools related to student safety, teacher accountability and disciplinary actions taken by the agency and board of certification.
Next to the dashboard, the hub links to the Non-Employment Registry – a publicly searchable database of individuals who are ineligible for employment in Texas public schools due to misconduct or criminal history – as well as a Teacher Certification Checkup tool and guidance on how to report abuse, neglect or misconduct involving students.
The resource center also offers materials aimed at helping people recognize the warning signs of abuse, neglect and misbehavior, including behavioral cues, boundary violations and self-corrective behaviors. It sets out the legal responsibilities of teachers, school staff, parents, students, service providers and community members, including when and how to report concerns and the appropriate role of schools and government agencies in protecting students.
Texas law requires people, especially school employees, to report suspected abuse or neglect within 24 hours, a point the agency emphasized in establishing student safety as a shared responsibility. This area also outlines required training, reporting procedures and follow-up expectations for school leaders, including the duties of administrators to promptly report and maintain programs that support student protection. It also explains how TEA investigates allegations, reviews criminal history information and coordinates with the certification board to impose discipline when standards are violated.
“These resources demonstrate our commitment to transparency and fostering trust in our schools,” said Levi Fuller, TEA’s Inspector General for Teacher Conduct. “The dashboard gives communities access to important information, while the resource center brings together the tools and guidance schools need to respond quickly and appropriately when concerns arise.”
The group of teachers encourages a clear division
The release drew a limited response from the Association of Texas Professional Educators. The attorney in charge of the agency, Lance Cain, said the dashboard gathers information in one place but suggested that it could do more to separate teachers found to have been negligent from those whose cases are still being reviewed.
Cain said he would like to see “clearer communication about the difference” between a person on the Do Not Hire list and a person under investigation, a difference that carries significant weight on a teacher’s reputation and work while a case is pending.
The agency did not say whether it is planning any changes to address those concerns.
