Several teachers from the Great Hearts charter schools across San Antonio have been put on ice after a state probe found problems with how they filed background checks. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) conducted a review that revealed teachers had not had their fingerprints fully processed, a key safety step required by the state for school employees.

Kurtis Indorf, the interim superintendent of Great Hearts Texas, didn't disclose exactly how many teachers were affected but did confirm the shake-up in an email to the community. "This was primarily related to fingerprints not being fully processed through the state’s system," Indorf said, as acquired by the San Antonio Report. All these teachers have been placed on paid administrative leave, though no specific safety concerns on campuses have been reported.

According to state law, anyone working in schools, from teachers to substitute teachers and even educational aides must undergo a national background check which includes fingerprint submissions before setting foot in a classroom. Certain convictions mean you're out—a rule designed to protect students and upheld rigorously by education authorities.

Last year, Great Hearts Texas was already under the microscope by the TEA, after a legal scuffle with its Arizona-based parent company, though the lawsuit was later dropped. In light of the recent compliance issues, the charter school is set to quickly fix their hiring processes. "Great Hearts Texas is investigating how these errors in process and submission occurred and is implementing immediate corrective action," Indorf said in a statement obtained by the San Antonio Report. The school now plans to handle employee onboarding and background checks internally to boost accountability and safety controls.

The TEA is currently keeping mum about the ongoing investigation, underscoring the seriousness of the issue. Meanwhile, Great Hearts insists on full cooperation with the TEA to resolve the matter swiftly, reassuring the school community that there are no known threats to student security.