Teachers screened before stepping into classroom

Following a week of apparent questionable activity from teachers around southern Colorado, KRDO NEWSCHANNEL 13 is looking into how the state tries to prevent misconduct.

Teachers must go through a screening process before obtaining a teaching license. The Colorado Department of Education requires a one-time fingerprint-based criminal history record, which is checked by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Any arrests, felonies and misdemeanors are then investigated.

In their licensing application, teachers must reveal information about their previous employment – whether they have ever had a teaching license revoked, whether they have been fired or whether they have ever resigned to avoid a dismissal or discipline by an employer.

If a teacher withholds information, and the CDE finds out the teacher can have his or her license taken away. And the law requires Colorado public schools to contact teachers’ former employers. The CDE said they also have the responsibility of monitoring teachers.