Criminal Background Information

If you have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, you must be aware of the impact of the conviction on your future in education and the possible actions you must take immediately:

• If you have been convicted of a drug or child molestation felony, you will not be able to receive a teacher, school counselor, or administrator license in Virginia. Since you will not be able to be licensed, you may not want to enroll in the program. If you choose to enroll in the program, you will be given alternative field experience assignments to complete the degree program.
• If you have been convicted of a felony other than drug-related or child molestation, you must petition the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for its approval to proceed with a licensure process. Again, you may complete the program, but your license may be denied if the VDOE has not given approval. Even if the VDOE has given approval, an individual school division has the right to refuse your field experience placement in its schools. This may jeopardize our ability to find a placement for you. If we cannot find a school division to allow you access, you will be given an alternative assignment to the field experience and we will not be able to apply for your license because you have not completed the full program.
• If you were accused of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, but were acquitted or had your record expunged, you must immediately check with the courts to insure that your record reflects the acquittal, or has been expunged, or charges were reduced to lesser misdemeanors.