Nearly 130 Chicago school workers out after background check review

A review of Chicago Public Schools’ background checks prompted by a newspaper investigation has resulted in 128 school district employees being terminated, recommended for dismissal or simply resigning under scrutiny. Among the 128 workers were nine teachers, 35 people classified as classroom aides, and an unspecified number of people the district lists as substitute or…

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Audit: Mo. school district should update required types of background checks

After an internal audit, a Springfield, Mo., school district is considering adding more current types of background checks to its hiring and retention policies, including fingerprinting all long-time employees. According to an internal audit report, fingerprint-based background checks did not become district policy until January 1, 2005, and Springfield Public Schools has not fingerprinted employees that…

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Delaware, schools reconsidering background check policy after alleged assaults

After four students in the Woodbridge School District came forward with allegations that they’d been sexually assaulted by their teachers, Woodbridge School District and the Delaware House of Representatives are reconsidering their current background screening legislation and policies. Currently, the state allows new teachers to begin working before all background checks have been completed, a…

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Substitute’s background check lacked employee criminal history

After it was found that a Washington elementary school substitute teacher had threatened and hit some of his students, East Valley School District wondered how it was possible that Matthew Deryan had passed the background checks required to be a substitute teacher in the state. Deryan had a criminal history prior to being hired, though…

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UK teachers strike over random drug testing policy

Teachers at an independent special school in the UK are on strike after one of them was asked to take a random drugs test. Eleven teachers at the Alderwasley Hall School, which is a residential centre as well as a school, took action last week. Their union, the NASUWT, says one teacher was suspended after…

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Are NC children safe as they return to school?

Teacher background checks From predators to personal information, there’s a substantial list of items that children needs protecting from as they enter the new school year. Background checks for teachers has long been an issue for many states, North Carolina included. Despite teacher background checks being implemented with increased legislation, teacher’s unions have long made it difficult to…

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North Carolina looks to rectify teacher employment issues

teacher background checks being implemented with increased legislation, teacher’s unions have long made it difficult to get unsuitable teachers removed from the education system. However, under an education reform package rolled out Monday by Senate Republicans, North Carolina’s public school teachers would see employment tenure eliminated, but become eligible for performance bonuses. The public school…

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