KQED and ProPublica launch inquiry into California teacher disciplinary opacity
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has faced criticism for releasing limited details on disciplinary outcomes. A joint investigation is now soliciting accounts from students, parents, and educators to examine the state's handling of allegations.
KQED and ProPublica have initiated a joint investigation into the transparency of California's teacher disciplinary process. The inquiry specifically targets the state's Commission on Teacher Credentialing, an institution noted for releasing few details regarding disciplinary cases. This lack of information has left the public largely uninformed about specific outcomes in cases involving alleged misconduct.
The reporting project is currently in the data-gathering phase, with a focus on documenting instances where teaching licenses were not revoked despite findings of sexual misconduct. Previous reviews of records and interviews with former commission members and students have already identified dozens of such cases. The organisations state that while these figures are based on preliminary work, the investigation aims to ensure a multi-perspective understanding of the system by soliciting input from all stakeholders.
To inform their reporting, the news organisations are actively seeking experiences from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and former commission members. Contributors are invited to submit their stories via a dedicated form or by contacting KQED reporter Holly McDede. Contact channels established for this purpose include a Signal handle, hollymcdede.68, and an email address for McDede.
The partnership emphasises that their role is to write about issues and cannot provide legal advice or other support. However, they note that resources are available for those affected by these cases. Contributors are informed that their stories may be shared with partner newsrooms if they provide permission, though individual submissions may not be published if the journalists choose not to follow up.
The investigation aims to gather a full picture of the issues from all sides of the educational and credentialing landscape. The project is expected to take several weeks or months to complete, with the exact timeline for the release of the full report remaining approximate rather than fixed.
As the data collection continues, the final scope and specific findings of the investigation remain unknown. The extent to which the gathered public input will alter the narrative or reveal new systemic failures is currently unverified, pending the completion of the reporting project.
