Office of Special Investigations (OSI)
The Office of Special Investigations investigates allegations of improper and unlawful behavior, including corporal punishment and verbal abuse. OSI is part of the Department of Education and is located at 65 Court Street, Brooklyn, Telephone: (718) 935-3800.
If you receive a request from OSI to be questioned, you should ask for their contact cards and say you will be in touch once you have secured union representation. You should then call the Bronx Office at (718) 379-6200 immediately. This advice applies equally to those who are the target of the investigation, and to those who are merely a witness. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU TALK TO OSI WITHOUT PROPER REPRESENTATION FROM THE BRONX OFFICE.
All officers and employees of the Department of Education must immediately report any information concerning corporal punishment or verbal abuse of a student to the principal/supervisor of the person alleged to have engaged in the misconduct. The principal/supervisor must in turn immediately notify OSI by completing the Corporal Punishment Reporting Form. In addition to notifying OSI, the principal/supervisor must notify his/her supervisor and, where the alleged misconduct constitutes a crime, the police. Aside from acquiring the information necessary to complete the Corporal Punishment Reporting Form, principals must not investigate nor make any determinations regarding credibility of the student. Once the Corporal Punishment Reporting Form has been submitted, OSI will determine whether it will investigate the matter or refer it to the principal for investigation.
If OSI chooses to investigate, it will recommend the reassignment of the employee, if appropriate. If OSI refers the investigation to the principal, he/she should use the seriousness of the allegation as a guide for whether to reassign the employee. Employees must be reassigned in cases where the principal believes that the employee’s presence may jeopardize the health or safety of the children.
To report an act of Corporal Punishment, click here
Special Commissioner of Investigations (SCI)
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU TALK TO SCI WITHOUT PROPER REPRESENTATION OF AN ATTORNEY PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE BRONX OFFICE.
The Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation has broad authority to investigate fraud, misconduct, conflicts of interest, and other wrongdoing within the New York City School District.
SCI was created pursuant to Mayoral Executive Order 11 of 1990 and Chapter 34 of the New York City Charter and operates independently of the Chancellor and the Department of Education.
All officers and employees of the Department of Education (“DOE”) have the obligation to report, directly and without delay, to SCI any information concerning conduct that may involve corruption, criminal activity, or a conflict of interest (1) by an employee of the DOE, or (2) by persons dealing with the DOE. Where the alleged misconduct constitutes a crime, employees must also notify their principal/supervisor, who in turn must notify his/her supervisor and the police.
Additionally, all officers and employees of the DOE have the obligation to report immediately to their principal/supervisor and SCI any information concerning sexual misconduct involving students by DOE employees or anyone else connected with school programs or services, such as volunteers. This obligation extends to sexual misconduct on and off school premises (Sexual Misconduct Memo, click here). The principal/supervisor shall not gather any information or conduct an investigation of the allegations, but he/she must contact the student’s parent. Again, where the alleged misconduct constitutes a crime, the principal/supervisor must notify his/her supervisor and the police.
After reporting misconduct, employees must proceed in accordance with SCI’s directions. The failure of any employee to report misconduct to SCI is cause for disciplinary action.
SCI: (212) 510-1500 [24-hour hotline], (877) 888-TELL (8355) [Toll-free]
Reporting Obligations and SCI, click here
Forms
Chapter 68 of the New York City Charter, click here
Plain Language Guide to Chapter 68, click here
Chapter 68 Certification Form, click here
Employee Relationship Form, click here
Personnel Memo #51, Medical Accomodation, click here
Conflict of Interest Frequently Asked Questions by DOE Employees, click here
Private tutoring and other financial relationships with students memo, click here
OEO Sexual Harassment, click here
OEO Americans with Disability Act, click here
OEO Know Your Rights, click here
Relevant Documents
City Charter of New York City, click here
Executive Order #16 (1978) Creating Commissioner of Investigations, click here
Executive Order #11 (1990), Creating Special Commissioner of Investigations, click here
Reporting Obligations and SCI, click here
Sexual Misconduct Memo, click here
Whistleblower Law (2003), click here
Whistleblower Law (2007), click here
Summary of Whistleblower Legal Protections, click here
Chancellor's Regulation A-830, click here
NYC EEO Policy, click here
About EEO Policy, click here