teacher regulation in british columbia

Teacher Regulation in British Columbia

BCCPAC AGMMay 5, 2013

The Teachers Act is based on two foundational principles: the paramount

nature of the public interest and transparency.

Teachers Act

TRB Website

Online Registry

BC Teachers Council Meetings

Discipline Process

Hearing Schedule

Discipline Decisions

The focus on both public interest and transparency is intended to increase public confidence that educators who fail to meet the standards of

conduct and competence will be held accountable.

•Work in the public interest

•Ensure the safety of children

•Ensure that all educators are fit and competent

•Instill public confidence in the education system by ensuring that K-12 educators are held accountable to the standards

Shared Responsibility

BC Teachers’ Council

Commissioner for Teacher Regulation

Teacher Regulation Branch

Operational/Administrative Support

Disciplinary and

Professional Conduct Board

Director of Certification

The new regulatory structure has five separate and distinct bodies who also

share responsibility.

New Regulatory Model

“Raising the Curtain”…

Commissioner for Teacher Regulation

Ensuring that concerns about the competence and conduct of

educators are addressed independently, fairly,

expeditiously and in the public interest.

1. Employer report: regarding disciplinary action taken or a resignation under the School Act or the Independent School Act.

2. A written complaint: from any member of the public.

3. A written report: from a teacher about the serious misconduct of another teacher (required under the Teachers Act).

4. Commissioner’s own initiative: when he becomes aware of information related to conduct or competence of an educator, including information about criminal proceedings.

How Concerns Are Initiated

Employers Must Report:

• Suspensions or dismissals• Discipline for misconduct that involves:

Physical harm to a student or minor Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a

student or minor, or Significant emotional harm to a student

or minor• Conduct/competence considered to be in breach

of the teaching certification standards, if it is in the public interest

• A resignation, if it is in the public interest

Public InterestPublic interest in a regulatory context has two

main elements:

1. Students must be protected from certificate holders who inflict physical, emotional or sexual harm on them (intentionally or otherwise).

2. Certificate holders cannot conduct themselves – on or off duty – in a way that breaches the Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct of Educators in B.C.

Discipline Process

Process

Commissioner’sPreliminary Review

Report Complaint

Deferral Consent Resolutions

Written Reasons

Investigation

HearingWritten Reasons

Publication

Commissioner Initiated

No Further Action

Written Reasons

Intake File Preparation

CitationPublication

If Disciplinary Action is Warranted

• Whether the case is resolved through a disciplinary hearing or consent resolution process, there are several options available: A reprimand Suspension of a certificate Placing limits or conditions on a

certificate Cancelling a certificate