EmployeeScreenIQ

Parents and others who home school children in the United Kingdom could soon be subjected to background checks and criminal records checks.

A bill recently proposed by the British government would not only give local educational officials the right to determine whether or not they will register a home education program, but also would require parents to undergo background checks before teaching their own children.

If the bill is passed, the United Kingdom would be one of the first countries to require such measures. Neither the United States nor Canada - where the majority of home schooling takes place - require parents to register, and only two states require home schools to be approved.

In most instances, parents only have to inform the proper authorities that they plan on home schooling their children. While some states impose various testing requirements for home schooled students, most encounter no interference from government.

According to an article by the Home School Legal Defense Association, many British citizens are concerned about the implications of the bill proposed by the government. This has caused a parliament committee to conduct a special inquiry to determine whether the bill was conducted properly.

Some officials have claimed the government has adopted an extreme interpretation of the Untied Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by granting authorities the right to access home schooled children and gather their views on home education.

In addition, the bill would allow local authorities to terminate registration if parents choose not to cooperate. It also would give some jurisdiction to the Local Safeguarding Children Boards.

Labels: Background checks and criminal records