Policy Update: Educators Administrative Leave
Speaking in the House of Assembly today [July 13], Minister of Education and Workforce Development Diallo Rabain provided an update on the Department of Education’s Policy for Administrative Leave, which “lays out the expectations for educators when interacting with students and the actions that will be taken when an educator is placed on administrative leave.”
“It is standard practice to place any adult who is cited in a referral and who works with children, on administrative leave during an investigation,” the Minister said.
“I asked that a small committee take on the task of updating the Department’s Administrative Leave Policy. The purpose for the update is to develop processes and procedures that will reduce the amount of time that an educator is away from work for administrative leave. Additionally, the guidelines steering the interaction between educators and students will be reviewed; and, the reporting protocols expanded.
“Previously, when an educator was placed on leave he or she would have remained at home. With our revised procedures, any educator placed on administrative leave will report to the Department of Education for the duration of the leave. During that time, educators will be assigned tasks to complete to support their students and their respective school.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker,
I stand before you and my Honorable colleagues this morning to provide an update on the Department of Education’s Policy for Administrative Leave. This is a policy that lays out the expectations for educators when interacting with students and the actions that will be taken when an educator is placed on administrative leave.
Mr. Speaker,
It is standard practice to place any adult who is cited in a referral and who works with children, on administrative leave during an investigation. In this regard, last year, the Department of Education found itself in this position where some educators from the primary, middle and senior levels were placed on administrative leave.
Mr. Speaker,
When our educators are away from school for any type of leave, the learning and services provided to students is compromised. During the course of the last school year, some of the educators who were placed on administrative leave were away from work for extended periods of time.
Mr. Speaker,
The Department of Education expects and supports ethical and professional standards of behavior for educators in their interactions with students. This is necessary to provide a safe learning environment for students, and to protect the professional integrity of educators. The Department of Education also recognizes the adverse impact that any type of teacher absence has on the results and success of our students.
Mr. Speaker,
As a result, as Minister, I asked that a small committee take on the task of updating the Department’s Administrative Leave Policy. The purpose for the update is to develop processes and procedures that will reduce the amount of time that an educator is away from work for administrative leave. Additionally, the guidelines steering the interaction between educators and students will be reviewed; and, the reporting protocols expanded.
Mr. Speaker,
To ensure that our educators are clear about expectations for interactions with children, plans are in the works to hold workshops with staff from all schools at the start of the new school year in September. Additionally, each staff member will be provided with a copy of the Administrative Leave Policy and each School Principal and Preschool Administrator will be asked to review expectations for interacting with children and with staff, at their monthly staff meetings.
Mr. Speaker,
Previously, when an educator was placed on leave he or she would have remained at home. With our revised procedures, any educator placed on administrative leave will report to the Department of Education for the duration of the leave. During that time, educators will be assigned tasks to complete to support their students and their respective school.
Mr. Speaker,
It is our hope that the revised Administrative Leave Policy and the associated activities, will serve as a clear reminder of expectations for our educators when working with children.
Mr. Speaker,
It is also the expectation of the Ministry and the Government that there will be a reduction in the number of educators placed on administrative leave in the future.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I think these are excellent changes to the administrative leave policy.
This is a great step.
While there may always be a need for administrative leave, it must cause as little disruption to all as possible. While sometimes teachers may need to be separated from their environment while the investigations are continuing, they should be allowed to carry out some aspects of their employment in a neutral setting, rather than remaining at home for the duration.
And the committee to review protocols and expectations s for students and their parents…there must be a manual some where for that and a system to keep/get them in check…
Ok.