4003 Procedure - License Status

SUBJECT: License Status Procedure
RELATES TO POLICY SERIES: Employee Rights & Responsibilities
SUPPORTS POLICY#: ERR 100 – Goals
DATE CABINET APPROVED: December 2008
ACTIVITY: Personnel

4003 License Status Procedure Printable PDF

4003 License Status Procedure

1. PURPOSE
   The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that qualified teachers and administrators are employed by the District and that the District fulfills its duty to ascertain the licensure status of its teachers and administrators. A school board that employs a teacher or administrator who does not hold a valid teaching license or permit places itself at risk for a reduction in state aid. This procedure does not negate a teacher or administrator’s duty and responsibility to maintain a current and valid license. 
2. GENERAL STATEMENT OF PROCEDURE
   1. A qualified teacher or administrator is one holding a valid license to perform the particular service for which the teacher or administrator is employed by the District. 
   2. No person shall be a qualified teacher or administrator until that person has filed for record with the Superintendent or designee, a license, or a copy thereof, authorizing that person to teach or be an administrator in the District and perform the particular service for which the teacher or administrator is employed by the District or otherwise meets the requirements of Minnesota law. 
   3. The District has a duty to ascertain the licensure status of its teachers and administrators and ensure that the District’s teacher and administrator license files are up to date. The District shall establish a procedure for annually reviewing its teacher and administration license files to verify that every teacher or administrator’s license is current and appropriate to the particular service for which the teacher or administrator is employed by the District. 
3. PROCESS
   The Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall establish a schedule for the annual review of teacher licenses.
   
   Where it is discovered that a teacher's license is to expire within one year from the date of the annual review, the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall advise the teacher in writing of the approaching expiration. The teacher must complete the renewal process and file the license with the Superintendent prior to the expiration of the current license. However, failure to provide this notice does not relieve teachers from their duty and responsibility of ensuring that their teaching license is valid, current, and appropriate to their teaching assignment.
   
   If it is discovered that a teacher's license has expired, the Superintendent shall immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the lack of license and shall take appropriate action. The teacher shall be advised that the teacher's failure to have the license reinstated shall constitute gross insubordination, inefficiency, and willful neglect of duty which are grounds for immediate discharge from employment.
   
   The duty and responsibility of maintaining a current and valid teaching license appropriate to the teaching assignment as required by this procedure shall remain with the teacher, notwithstanding the District's failure to discover a lapsed license or license that does not support the teaching assignment. A teacher's failure to comply with this procedure may be grounds for the teacher's immediate discharge from employment.