Kansas State Department of Education
120 S.E. 10th Avenue
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1182

Office of General Counsel
785-296-3204 (phone)
785-296-7933 (FAX)
785-296-6338 (TTY)
www.ksbe.state.ks.us

September 4, 1997

Mr. Jordan Riak, Executive Director
Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education
P.O. Box 1033
Alamo CA 94507-7033

Dear Mr. Riak:

This will acknowledge receipt of your letter to Dr. Tompkins, Kansas Commissioner of Education. In reply to your inquiry, please be advised that every applicant for a Kansas teaching certificate, male or female, is asked whether they have been convicted of any crime involving abuse of a child. If so, the application is referred to the Professional Practices Commission to review the matter. If it is confirmed that the person has engaged in any unlawful act of child abuse, the person is denied a certificate to teach.

In addition, existing certificate holders are subjected to revocation of their certificates if they engage in any unlawful abuse of any child.

Very truly yours,
[signature]
Rodney J. Bieker
General Counsel

RJB:blh