Charter teachers fingerprinted. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).

Teachers in Arizona's 461 charter schools are now subject to the same background checks and security clearance criteria as public school teachers.

Legislators extended the criteria to the state's 3,000 charter teachers in a special session summer.

Its isn't a burden. We fully support the legislation," says Kristen Jordison, executive director of the State Board of Charter Schools.

Jordison says charter schools are required to fingerprint teachers but can decide to hire the teachers even if they have had criminal offenses. Now, they have to follow the same guidelines about criminal records as public schools.

Three state charter schools are in danger of having their licenses revoked after failing to properly conduct security checks. In one case in Glendale, a teacher was charged with sexually abusing two students. The case is pending.

Under the new guidelines, charter teachers, about half of whom are not state certified, will be fingerprinted and issued security clearance cards. Like public school teachers, they can appeal to the Board of Fingerprinting if they have committed lesser offenses, such as drunk driving, but are automatically dismissed if they are found to have committed 71 major offenses, such as sexual assault, rape and murder. The clearance cards will also enable employers to be notified if a teacher has been arrested while employed at the school.

Penny Kotterman, president of the Arizona Education Association, which represents 30,000 school personnel, says the association welcomes the legislation. "Those of us who teach in traditional schools are pleased charter schools have to follow the same rules," Kotterman says.