EmployeeScreenIQ

The number of background checks and criminal records checks being conducted by employers is continuing to increase, especially on candidates who would be working in trusted positions, such as those with the elderly, children or other vulnerable people.

This has been most obvious as of late based on the number of schools throughout the country that are implementing rules requiring teachers, volunteers and other personnel to undergo background checks.

Most recently, Boulder Valley School District officials passed a measure requiring all volunteers to undergo a background check. Although the district has long performed background checks on employees, checks on volunteers were never consistent from school to school.

Under the new policy, anyone who regularly volunteers in the school, chaperons overnight trips or coaches must undergo a background check. Those who only volunteer occasionally will have their names cross-checked with Colorado's sex offender registry.

According to an article by KMGH, the school plans to conduct background checks on 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers this year, which will cost a total of about $6,000. While district officials have considered charging volunteers for more in-depth checks, they don't want to discourage anyone from volunteering.

The Dougherty County School System in Albany, Ga., also recently passed a measure requiring all current and future employees to undergo an FBI background check. While the DCSS Board of Education will pay for all current employees' background checks, new hires will be responsible for footing the $53 bill.

According to an article by WFXL, members of the school board decided to require an extensive background check to make sure that no employee working in the school system has a history of being fired from an out-of-state school for something inappropriate or illegal.

Other efforts to implement background checks in schools within the last year include:

• The Francis Howell School District near St. Louis, Mo. is requiring volunteers who have lived in the state for the last five years to undergo a state check every four years, while those who recently moved to the state have to undergo an FBI check.
• The State of Indiana is requiring teachers to undergo a check so it can create a public database of teachers convicted of drug or sex crimes.
• The State of Texas has been enforcing a law passed in 2007 that requires all new non-certified employees to undergo fingerprint checks and all certified educators, substitute teachers and classroom aides to undergo background checks before 2011.
• An audit by the Utah State Legislature found the current background check system flawed and ineffective, causing many lawmakers and education leaders to push for background checks. Proposed measures include: requiring licensed and classified employees to report any arrests or convictions within 48 hours, implementing a personal database that would alert officials of employee arrests, and requiring employees and teachers renewing their licenses to undergo fingerprint testing.
• The British government is considering a bill that would require parents who home school children to undergo a background check.

Labels: Background checks and criminal records