Senate Approves Syverson Bill Giving Schools More Info On Problem Teachers

Posted: May 31, 2008

May 29, 2008/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Senate has approved legislation giving school districts greater abilities to gain information on troubled teachers, according to State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), a sponsor of the measure.

The legislation, House Bill 4252, gives school districts permission to disclose reports on employees accused of abuse who apply for employment in other school districts. The Senate approved the measure without opposition on Thursday, May 29, and it now awaits the Governor’s signature to become law.

Syverson sponsored the measure, along with a companion measure – Senate Bill 2575 – following an incident in which Rockford Public Schools hired a Chicago teacher who had been accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage student. While the Chicago school district was aware the teacher was working in Rockford, it failed to warn the Rockford school district about the alleged incidents.

“The aim of this bill is to help give school districts some warning that a new teacher or employee could be a problem,” Syverson said. “What happened in Rockford is inexcusable. We need to do a better job of ensuring schools know exactly who they are bringing into our classrooms.”

Under the measure, in cases where teachers move from one school district to another, the former school district must disclose whether the educator has been the subject of an investigation regarding abuse. Currently, many school districts dismiss teachers who have been the subject of abuse-related reports or investigations without warning new school districts who hire them, as was the case in the Rockford incident.

“Hopefully, the end result will be safer classrooms for our students,” Syverson said. “This will help school districts weed out teachers who could pose a potential abusive or sexual threat to students.”

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