[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6146983,"mediaKeyId","5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9","parentId",5523620,"title","Certification office reports strong processing times, sets higher July goal","audioSeconds",97,"startMs",161000,"endMs",258000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9&start=161&end=258","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9/thumbnail_161000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6146983/Louisiana/Certification-office-reports-strong-processing-times-sets-higher-July-goal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146983-cdcfa24536c3544e605f56e7e1b92395/orig.mp4?Expires=1772908715&Signature=SfkaZl37AbeurhT1N0k8bi~5yG1yHdwnwGXx4HnvTsL20insH6G4fEAE~hQnL52E9qY7ncPyFaxMvd1qxfs2P4UF~ztfKNMzUJInA3y8CHrf0tgAUiK7uPi5BKtXDa8LAL-eXVBwRX5nzUnx9d7tVLaN6j36S1kBuqErvyTKxoz2rPSrLGj67OLC7gn8E5AyHp~iNkT0LcgM2KKPUAJx~VxunR0HBavLRVt0-pxSbF6EOrvMJViBudE7~1D7kQtXX-v28bP2yCWZu1ExxOffFkjXDAwozzrGCN2epnAZZB6kZDPb76-72bJRP3YisWGxhzY~DtDlkxZssBxH9uvWqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Department of Education","date","2025-08-01T20:17:52.997Z","article","Dr. Jofreon, a department staff member who opened the call, and certification staff highlighted processing metrics and team performance during the monthly certification call.

Dr. Jofreon said the certification specialist and background credentialing teams processed nearly 2,600 applications in June, with “90 almost 91% of those applications processed within our 15 business day goal,” and an average processing time “less than 10 business days.” She also said the team resolved nearly 1,300 questions and answered those within one business day.

Paula Bell added that between Jan. 1 and July 11 the department had “granted 11,314 clear credentials,” which reflects background checks that produced no disqualifying convictions and allowed educators to proceed with certification applications.

Staff set a higher throughput target for July and said their goal was to process 3,000 applications in the month; according to the call they had about 1,300 applications remaining to reach that goal at the time of the meeting.

The call included recognition of individual teams and an extended demonstration of the new certification portal; staff encouraged partners to clear pending PDFs before the portal transition so applications would not have to be reentered.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Certification Monthly Call July 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Jofreon and department staff reported that the certification office processed nearly 2,600 applications in June, with roughly 91% meeting a 15‑business‑day goal and an average processing time under 10 business days.","taxTitle","Department of Education, Boards & Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Louisiana","taxId",45353,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6146988,"New Louisiana educator certification portal set to launch; two‑week PDF window and educator‑initiated workflow explained",2578,864000,3442000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9&start=864&end=3442","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9/thumbnail_864000.jpg","/articles/6146988/Louisiana/New-Louisiana-educator-certification-portal-set-to-launch-twoweek-PDF-window-and-educatorinitiated-workflow-explained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146988-eb91c88fff1804049098abd20b6d53a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1772908715&Signature=CrksuvG~uM6WcUclQfJOEKQh2kyLjeDVyJ3PMihcP~g~AfQeMqpEh8viJErISl947HXNF51mDCCzclnie60MQd4jvEJ1--wS3hzOyc3fWx1fdR89tSlw-MLaC6-0lL8xshTEgv1Unjgo7ZkJuMagfM7xZBfTm~Z4WGXHgrkk-TQE-S~hX32QTXX6OgDyGrzhJhhzMpUKCdjGCt2xvicWDB3oWgRuyGnt-GnEF8y52joUMTkDU8xQOqMJJEfNlRbYzbUZNfozMENF-b3p4qRMXW-B92qnwhDmmilnHjOf2ZgphmQDqaXZUxN344Ab~XUmOiu54JqcydUi79xNRJoCHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lana Hutchinson, a department staff member who led the portal demonstration, said the Louisiana Educator Certification portal (LEC, also referred to in the call as LEHI during testing) completed alpha and beta testing and is “still anticipating launching around July 28,” with training and reference materials to follow.

Hutchinson demonstrated how the portal will require educators to initiate applications and said an automated criminal background check (CBC) clear credential verification will prevent an educator from starting most certification applications until the department has a clear credential or a CBC on file that is less than five years old. “If your educators…do not have that clear credential or CBC, then the only application they’ll see when they try to do that is…fingerprint clearance required before proceeding,” Hutchinson said.

Department staff said they will allow a two‑week window after launch during which PDF applications may still be submitted through TeachLA Live; after that window, TeachLA Live will be turned off and the LEC portal will be the only submission route. Hutchinson said the team will record training sessions and post user guides; training will be announced on TeachLouisiana.net and the Teach LA Live portal.

The portal integrates with existing state accounts and systems. Hutchinson advised that public school staff who already use the Louisiana Educator portal will automatically see certification features when LEC goes live; nonpublic staff and preparation providers will need a MyLA account and an eScholar staff ID and must request permissions through EdLink Security to sign as HR or preparation providers. Hutchinson recommended requesting a staff ID ahead of the launch to avoid day‑one bottlenecks.

Other operational details covered in the demonstration: the application forms are web‑based; HR and preparation providers will see an “active applications” list showing items routed to them; applicants cannot complete checkout until all required signers have signed; any authorized party on an application can pay the processing fee on behalf of the applicant; and there is a prepaid‑receipt workflow for legacy payments that requires the educator to confirm the receipt in the new system.

Hutchinson and other staff repeatedly urged districts and providers to review their on‑desk PDF queues before the two‑week transition to avoid re‑entering paperwork and to plan for training. The department said specific training dates would be posted once the development team confirms the final go‑live date.","Lana Hutchinson, a department staff member, said the Louisiana Educator Certification portal completed alpha and beta testing and is \"still anticipating launching around July 28,\" with a two‑week transition period for PDF submissions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6146993,"State law changes tighten hiring, dismissal and certification review for educators",432,431000,863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9&start=431&end=863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5523620-8a3349774a0aa4aff3697b6d71ef82c9/thumbnail_431000.jpg","/articles/6146993/Louisiana/State-law-changes-tighten-hiring-dismissal-and-certification-review-for-educators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146993-3ea7cc1566422107803e9abafc9027a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1772908715&Signature=J-jwLHkjm~H1TLD0gU7YoZMuy1K0aZS6d52jXLyYgD-Wm~TsIUxxzS6lVQQ9OzvzaesYaVXz7m-is4kNPl0-7VwjtaBhpbeO2vrpk3EZEZqb~mVbVWGSjK3rTjS8oN1CesKV1upU96RFyd7kc55LaJJG2AZ2N~YjF0rwR0nUwrO1KOnRaH56f2adnNtVOfLPOTb-3P1RGHlheWftDDZ5gvwuO81etMs-lPPQhwcCFXR4F-Bo0h~Wnkx~CgXjz1CezTXx3muKsJ7tqr9NwQ8NAChIlS2kvO5CxbnqkzA7wNf0sg1CVSe3VlNQXwMgbZ7TqwmmhMkyNUM7uAiZqQku~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paula Bell, director of background credentialing for the Louisiana Department of Education, told a monthly certification call that Act 409 (Senate Bill 41) revised state law to strengthen child‑welfare and safety standards affecting educator certification and local hiring.

Bell said the law updates the list of disqualifying convictions in Louisiana Revised Statute 15:587.1(C) to add offenses related to human trafficking and battery of persons with infirmities, and she described those as “never evers” that bar certification consideration. “The law still restricts records reviews from occurring until five years after the disqualifying conviction or event,” Bell said.

The change to La. R.S. 17:8.7 aligns the records‑review process with current Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) practice in Bulletin 746, Chapter 19, Bell said. She summarized the modified language: the board may issue an educator credential after a successful appeal except for offenses listed in La. R.S. 15:587.1(C.\")

Bell also described amendments to La. R.S. 17:15 that affect hiring and dismissal. Under the statutory change, employers must check the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) state central registry in addition to criminal background checks. She said a person whose name appears on the DCFS registry as substantiated for child abuse or neglect on or after Aug. 1, 2018, or who has a prohibited conviction under La. R.S. 15:587.1(C), cannot be hired by a local school board or a nonpublic school system.

The statute also requires employers to dismiss employees whose names appear on the DCFS registry on or after Aug. 1, 2025, and lists other grounds for dismissal including submission of fraudulent documentation to the department or facilitating cheating on state assessments, Bell said. The law requires employees to notify both their employer and the department within two business days if their name is recorded on the DCFS registry or if they have a disqualifying conviction; failure to report can carry an individual fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year, Bell said.

Bell urged school systems to consult legal counsel about whether to rely solely on the department’s “clear credential” for local hiring decisions. She said the department will provide resources and can accept identification of possible violations by email at educatorclearance@la.gov.

The department’s summary did not propose local enforcement processes beyond the statute; Bell repeatedly advised districts to coordinate with counsel and said the department’s role is to share the law and assist with questions.","The Department of Education outlined changes from Act 409 (Senate Bill 41) that add offenses to the \"never‑ever\" list, restrict records-review eligibility and require school systems to check the DCFS central registry when hiring; penalties for nondisclosure also were summarized.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Certification office reports strong processing times, sets higher July goal

New Louisiana educator certification portal set to launch; two‑week PDF window and educator‑initiated workflow explained

State law changes tighten hiring, dismissal and certification review for educators