Legal Question in Education Law in Pennsylvania

denial of student teaching

After completing a degree in philosophy, and completing 2 post-bac years of study in secondary education, 3 weeks prior to my student teaching assignment I was sent a letter dismissing me from the assignment due to my act 34 record check. The record check shows a ''disorderly conduct - summary offense'' occuring in 1997. Although PA state law does not allow an instituion such as slippery rock university from denying someones right to teach based on such an occurance, and despite promises by department chairs that I would be allowed to teach, I have been repeatedly denied and lied to. With only a summary offense I am positive that my university's policy is illegal having talked to chief cousel and the dep. sec. of ed for PA.It has been over 5 years since this happened and I want to file a lawsuit because there policy has been found to be illegal. Any advice?


Asked on 9/04/05, 11:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: denial of student teaching

You said it happened five years ago? You may have a problem with statute of limitations getting into court because of that.

You need to go and get your student teaching done. In other words, go back to SRU or somewhere else, and tell them that you have to complete student teaching, if you get denied again, then the clock will start over.

School districts can set any non-discriminatory criteria for new employees. If a particular school district says no convictions, then it's no convictions. However, you'll find that the vast majority of districts will overlook a summary conviction.

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Answered on 9/06/05, 10:25 am


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