The Board has two standing committees that meet prior to the formal public meeting. The committees discuss matters on their respective agendas and make recommendations to the full Board for action.
Credentials Review Committee
Candidates can contest adverse decisions by the Office of Recruitment, Preparation, and Certification regarding their eligibility for certification by filing an appeal to the Board. In addition, candidates who cannot meet certain requirements for certification may request that the Board consider their alternate education and/or life experiences as the equivalent of the missing education or experience. These candidates provide the Board with documentation that they believe demonstrates that their education and/or experiences are the equivalent of the requirements they lack. Their documentation is initially examined by the Credentials Review Committee, which makes a recommendation regarding the case to the full Board in the public session. Candidates are invited to attend the State Board of Examiners meeting to respond to questions from Board members.
Legal Committee
Cases reviewed by the Legal Committee include decisions to revoke or suspend an educator's certificates (the Board has the authority revoke or suspend certificates for inefficiency, incapacity, conduct unbecoming a teacher or other just cause), review of applications from individuals with a criminal record, and applications for certification after revocation. The Legal Committee makes recommendations to the full Board in public session. Legal cases are usually decided on the basis of written submissions only. However, when material facts are in dispute, the Board transmits the case to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. In addition, the Board may hold hearings at its meetings, and educators facing revocation of their certificates are provided with the opportunity to appear before the Board to offer testimony on the issue of the appropriate sanction in the event the Board finds just cause to take action against their certificates.
