California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Punish Administrators Who Fail to Vet Teachers for Misconduct by Holly McDede, KQED Co-published with KQED August 31, 2026, 4:40 pm +...

California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Punish Administrators Who Fail to Vet Teachers for Misconduct The legislation resulted from a KQED-ProPublica investigation that found at least 14 educators were hired by new schools after their former employers determined they had sexually harassed students or committed other sexual misconduct. by Holly McDede, KQED Co-published with KQED August 31, 2026, 4:40 pm https://www.propublica.org/article/california-teacher-misconduct-bill-administrator-discipline-al-muratsuchi?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=secondary California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that school administrators are informed about past accusations of misconduct against teachers as part of their hiring process. The legislation follows a KQED-ProPublica investigation revealing how delays and inaction — combined with a lack of transparency — allowed educators to get new jobs after school districts reported them to the state teacher licensing agency for sexual harassment or other misconduct. By law, administrators in the state are required to check with teachers’ previous employers for misconduct allegations. The new bill goes further by adding consequences for school leaders who fail to comply — including suspending or revoking their credentials. School administrators, though, say the new legislation does not address the burden on school districts of reaching out to every previous employer for any reports they made to the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the legislation. A spokesperson said the governor does not typically comment on bills awaiting his signature. He Was Fired for Sexually Harassing Students. California Allowed Him to Keep Teaching Anyway. by Holly McDede, KQED, and Mollie Simon, ProPublica Co-published with KQED May 12, 2026, 5:00 am https://www.propublica.org/article/california-fired-teacher-sexual-harassment?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=secondary