State Board Policy

DESCRIPTOR TERM: Commission, Hearings and Appeals
CODE: 1706
ADOPTION DATE: March 22, 1985
REVISION:  October 24, 1997

1. The aggrieved party appealing a decision rendered by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development or its subcommittee pursuant to Section 37-3-2, Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated, as amended, may submit a written notice of appeal to the Executive Secretary of the Mississippi Board of Education within ten days of the decision of the Commission or its subcommittee.

2. The notice of appeal should state with particularity the matters which, in the opinion of the appellant, have been overlooked or mistakenly conceived in the decision by the Commission or its subcommittee. An appeal to the Mississippi Board of Education is not intended as an opportunity for rearguing the entire case.

3. The Mississippi Board of Education will consider the appeal at the next regularly scheduled meeting after the transcript of proceedings is filed with the Executive Secretary. Such appeal will be on the record previously made before the Commission or its subcommittee, and the Board may, at is discretion, afford the aggrieved party the opportunity to appear before the Board to make an oral presentation and respond to questions concerning the appeal. Said presentation will be limited to fifteen (15) minutes.

4. The Mississippi Board of Education may affirm, reverse, or remand with instructions, the decision of the Commission or its subcommittee. The decision of the Mississippi Board of Education shall be final.

LEGAL REFERENCE: Section 37-3-2, Miss. Code of 1972, as amended by 1997 Miss. Laws, Ch. 545, SB 2512

Rules for Procedure for Disciplinary Hearings by the Licensure Commission

1. All controversies involving the issuance, revocation, suspension or any change whatsoever in the certification/license of an educator required to hold a certificate/license shall be initially heard in a hearing de novo by the Commission of Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development (the Commission), or by a subcommittee established by the Commission and composed of Commission members for the purpose of holding hearings.

2. Any complaint seeking the denial of issuance, revocation or suspension of a certificate/license shall be by sworn affidavit filed with the Commission.

3. Upon receipt of such complaint or of a written appeal from the denial of an application for certification/license, the Executive Secretary, or other designee, of the Commission shall fix a date, time and place for the hearing of the complaint or appeal, and will furnish to the applicant/certificate/license holder by certified mail, or by any other manner of service authorized by law, a copy of the complaint and notice of the date, time and place of the hearing, which date shall be not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than forty-five (45) days from the date of such notice, unless otherwise agreed. The Executive Secretary may grant one continuance. Any additional continuances will require application to the Commission and may be granted only by the Commission.

4. Parties appearing at the hearing may be represented by legal counsel, at their own expense, and may produce witnesses and cross-examine hostile witnesses. It will be the responsibility of each party to secure the attendance of such witness or witnesses as each party deems necessary or appropriate; and any expense connected with the attendance of such witnesses will be born by the party responsible for the attendance of the witnesses.

5. At least five (5) days prior to the hearing, parties represented by counsel and/or producing witnesses will provide a list containing the name, address and telephone number of counsel and/or witnesses, and a copy of all exhibits that will be produced at the hearing, to the other party or parties and to the Commission.

6. The Commission or its subcommittee, in order to prevent cumulative oral evidence, may require any portion of the evidence to be submitted in the form of depositions or affidavits; and in case affidavits are received, an opportunity to present counter-affidavits shall be provided.

7. The Commission or its subcommittee may, by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of all members present and pursuant to the Mississippi Open Meetings Act (Mississippi Code 25-41-7), enter into executive session for purposes of any hearing held under these rules.

8. The Commission or the subcommittee shall cause to be made stenographic notes by a certified court reporter of the proceedings, which notes shall not be transcribed until and unless an appeal is taken from the decision of the Commission or subcommittee.

9. In conducting a hearing, the Commission or its subcommittee shall not be bound by common law or by statutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of procedure, except those provided herein, but may conduct such hearing in such manner as to best ascertain the rights of the parties; provided, however, hearsay evidence, if admitted, shall not be the sole basis for the determination of facts by the Commission or its subcommittee.

10. The Commission or its subcommittee shall make its decision on the basis of the matters presented before it, and shall notify all parties by certified mail of its decision and reasons therefor within fifteen (15) days of the conclusion of the hearing. The decision shall specify the date and revocation or suspension of a certificate shall be effective.

11. The decision of the Commission or its subcommittee shall be final, unless the aggrieved party shall petition the State Board of Education for an administrative reconsideration within ten (10) days after the date of the decision of the Commission or its subcommittee. The reconsideration shall be on the record previously made before the Commission or its subcommittee, unless otherwise provided by rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education.

12. An appeal from the action of the State Board of Education, shall be filed in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, within thirty (30) days after notification of the action by the State Board of Education is mailed or served in accordance with §37-3-2 (16), Mississippi Code of 1972.