HB5556 Summary

• Transfers responsibility for student teacher fingerprint-based criminal history records checks from school districts/non-public schools to educator preparation institutions where student teachers are enrolled.

• Student teachers must authorize the check and pay associated fees to their institution rather than the school where they conduct student teaching.

• Institutions must submit student teacher information to the Department of State Police and perform checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database.

• Check results are provided to both the institution's educator preparation program administrator and the school where student teaching occurs.

• Schools cannot knowingly allow student teaching by individuals with disqualifying criminal convictions, sex offender status, or documented abuse/neglect findings.