282—11.37(256) Mandatory reporting of contract nonrenewal or termination or resignation based on allegations of misconduct. The board of directors of a school district or area education agency, the superintendent of a school district or the chief administrator of an area education agency, and the authorities in charge of a nonpublic school shall report to the board any instance of disciplinary action taken against a person who holds a license, certificate, or authorization issued by the board for conduct that would constitute a violation of 282—subparagraph 25.3(1)“e”(4), subrule 25.3(2), paragraph 25.3(3)“e,” or paragraph 25.3(4)“b.” In addition, the board of directors of a school district or area education agency, the superintendent of a school district or the chief administrator of an area education agency, and the authorities in charge of a nonpublic school shall report to the board the nonrenewal or termination, for reasons of alleged or actual misconduct, of a person’s contract executed under Iowa Code sections 279.12, 279.13, 279.15, 279.16, 279.18 through 279.21, 279.23, and 279.24, and the resignation of a person who holds a license, certificate, or authorization issued by the board as a result of or following an incident or allegation of misconduct that, if proven, would constitute a violation of 282—subparagraph 25.3(1)“b”(1), subparagraph 25.3(1)“e”(4), subrule 25.3(2), paragraph 25.3(3)“e,” or paragraph 25.3(4)“b,” when the board or reporting official has a good-faith belief that the incident occurred or the allegation is true.
	11.37(1) Method of reporting. The report required by this rule may be made by completion and filing of the complaint form described in subrule 11.4(2) or by the submission of a letter to the executive director of the board which includes:
	a. 	The full name, address, telephone number, title and signature of the reporter;
	b. 	The full name, address, and telephone number of the person who holds a license, certificate or authorization issued by the board;
	c. 	A concise statement of the circumstances under which the termination, nonrenewal, or resignation occurred;
	d. 	The date action was taken which necessitated the report, including the date of disciplinary action taken, nonrenewal or termination of a contract for reasons of alleged or actual misconduct, or resignation of a person following an incident or allegation of misconduct as required under Iowa Code section 256.160(1), or awareness of alleged misconduct as required under Iowa Code section 256.160(2); and
	e. 	Any additional information or documentation which the reporter believes will be relevant to assessment of the report pursuant to subrule 11.37(4).
	11.37(2) Timely reporting required. The report required by this rule shall be filed within 30 days of the date action was taken which necessitated the report or within 30 days of an employee becoming aware of the alleged misconduct under Iowa Code section 256.160(2).
	11.37(3) Confidentiality of report. Information reported to the board in accordance with this rule is privileged and confidential, and, except as provided in Iowa Code section 256.158, is not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for its release to a person other than the respondent and the board and its employees and agents involved in licensee discipline, and is not admissible in evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding other than the proceeding involving licensee discipline.
	11.37(4) Action upon receipt of report.
	a. 	Upon receipt of a report under this rule, the executive director of the board shall review the information reported to determine whether a complaint investigation should be initiated.
	b. 	In making this determination, the executive director shall consider the nature and seriousness of the reported misconduct in relation to the position sought or held, the time elapsed since the misconduct, the degree of rehabilitation, the likelihood that the individual will commit the same misconduct again, and the number of reported incidents of misconduct.
	c. 	If the executive director determines a complaint should not be initiated, no further formal action will be taken and the matter will be closed.
	d. 	If the executive director determines a complaint investigation should be initiated, the executive director shall assign the matter for investigation pursuant to rule 282—11.5(256).
	11.37(5) Proceedings upon investigation. From the time of initiation of an investigation, the matter will be processed in the same manner as a complaint filed under rule 282—11.4(17A,256).
[ARC 4699C, IAB 10/9/19, effective 11/13/19]