*THIS ASSIGNMENT IS RESTRICTED*
**ONLY THOSE WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND SEEKING ACCEPTANCE TO THE AISD ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM MAY APPLY**
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Applicants for the AISD Teacher Academy Alternative Certification Program are subject to the Criminal History Background Check Requirements.
Criminal History Background Check and Fingerprinting
All candidates are required to go through a criminal history background check upon application to the program. Fingerprinting will also be completed as part of this process. The candidate will pay $50 for fingerprinting. Andrews ISD applicants accepted into the program can submit a receipt for reimbursement of the fee. Applicants from other districts will be required to pay the fee and will not be reimbursed by Andrews ISD.
Please visit the TEA website for more information on fingerprinting: http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/Fingerprinting/
According to 19 TAC §227.1(b), Educator preparation programs (EPPs) shall inform all applicants that:
(1) pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must
undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and
(2) pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history
background check prior to clinical teaching.
According to 19 TAC §227.5,
(3) Applicant__An individual seeking admission to an educator preparation
program for any class of certificate.
(4) Candidate-An individual who has been formally or contingently admitted to an
EPP; also referred to as an enrollee or participant.
According to 19 TAC §227.1(d)(1), EPPs shall notify, in writing by mail, personal delivery, facsimile, email, or an electronic notification, each applicant to and enrollee in the EPP of the following regardless of whether the applicant or enrollee has been convicted of an offense:
(1) the potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense
for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP;
(2) the current State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules prescribed in
- 249.16 of this title (relating to Eligibility of Persons with Criminal History for a Certificate under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53, and Texas Education Code, Chapter 21); and
(3) the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in Chapter
227, Subchapter B, of this title (relating to Preliminary Evaluation of Certification Eligibility).
According to 19 TAC §227.101(c), a person who is enrolled or planning to enroll in an SBEC-approved EPP or planning to take a certification examination may request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter regarding the person’s potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides the right for an individual to request a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation (PCHE). The evaluation is a service provided to the requestor for a nonrefundable fee of $50 and allows individuals the opportunity to have a review of an existing criminal history performed by agency staff. The review is based solely on the information that is provided by the requestor, and results are provided as a nonbinding opinion issued by the agency as to whether or not the candidate would be eligible for Texas teacher certification at the time of the evaluation. For more information, please visit the PCHE page on TEA’s website at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/investigations/preliminary-criminal-history-evaluation-faqs.
Andrews ISD Teacher Academy reserves the right to disqualify an applicant who has a criminal history record. However, conviction of a crime is not an automatic bar to employment. Andrews ISD Teacher Academy will consider the nature, date, and relationship of the offense to the position for which you are applying.
Candidates will be notified in writing if there is information on their background check that requires additional steps from the candidate. Candidates who exit the program and re-enter will be subject to another criminal history background check. Acceptance to the Andrews ISD Teacher Academy does not guarantee employment.
Please note the following circumstances:
- Candidates who fail to self-report or who make false statements or omissions of their criminal history may not be admitted. False statements or omissions are cause for denial of admittance to the program or, if the candidate already is enrolled, suspension or termination from the program.
- Candidates who have been convicted of violent crimes, crimes against a person, or crimes that resulted in a felony charge shall not be admitted into the Andrews ISD Teacher Academy.
- Candidates who have a habitual misdemeanor criminal history may be denied entrance at the discretion of the Andrews ISD Teacher Academy.
- Candidates who have any criminal history that took place within the previous five years may face challenges in securing a teaching position. Candidates in this situation will be counseled to apprise them of these potential employment challenges, and a statement from the candidate verifying that he or she understands these challenges and still wishes to continue will be requested. Please note that an application will not be considered complete until all criminal history documentation has been submitted.
In the case of dismissal due to results of the criminal background check, the applicant will have the opportunity to demonstrate that they should not be excluded due to their particular circumstances.
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