An Act To Improve Teacher Confidentiality Laws
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13004, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 666, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) Complete its own investigations;
(2) Provide information to a national association of state directors of teacher education and certification to which the State belongs;
(3) Assist other public authorities to investigate the same teacher's certification in another jurisdiction;
(4) Report or prevent criminal misconduct or assist law enforcement agencies in their investigations; or
(5) Report child abuse or neglect under Title 22, section 4011-A.
summary
This bill permits access to confidential information on denials, revocations and suspensions of teacher certification to the extent that the information is needed by a national association of state directors of teacher education and certification, in aid of an investigation by other jurisdictions investigating qualifications for certification or considering reciprocal disciplinary action or by law enforcement agencies in aid of an investigation.
The bill also authorizes the Department of Education to disseminate as public information statistical summaries of complaints and dispositions as long as the dissemination does not jeopardize the confidentiality of individually identifiable information.