In January 2013, Massachusetts enacted Chapter 459 of the Acts of 2012, “An Act Relative to Background Checks.” This new law expands what public, private, and parochial schools, including approved private special education schools and child care facilities, already do in conducting state Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks on all employees at least once every three years.

The law requires a fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check for all school employees and contractor employees. All newly hired school employees, including educators, student teachers, maintenance staff, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers, who work in the schools and may have direct and unmonitored contact with children are now required to complete the new fingerprint-based state and national background check for the 2013-2014 school year. Volunteers at schools will continue to be required to submit to state CORI checks at least once every three years, as currently required by statute, but the decision to require the submission of fingerprints by volunteers for the fingerprint-based state and national checks will be made locally, by schools or districts.

For all current K-12 school employees and early educators, the law directs the Board of Early Education and Care and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt regulations that phase in fingerprint-based state and national background checks prior to September 1, 2016. Unlike most state CORI checks that have no associated fee, individuals will pay a fee to comply with this requirement that ranges from $35 for non-licensed employees to $55 for individuals licensed under G.L. Chapter 71, Section 38G (licensed educators and specialists). The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) has designed the system to meet this new national background check requirement.

NOTE: The Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services (SAFIS) program was launched on February 4, 2014. Newly hired employees for the 2013-14 school year, as well as applicants for licensure by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), will schedule appointments to submit their fingerprints, pursuant to the new law. In the meantime, schools, programs, and providers will continue to run CORI (and, if required, DCF) checks on school employees and EEC licensees, as required under current state statutes.

To Register for a Fingerprinting Appointment, please click HERE

When registering for an appointment please enter the following information for the District as your employer:

Provider or Organization code 00440000

• Brockton Public Schools, 43 Crescent Street, Brockton, MA 02301
• Phone 508-580-7535
• Employer Contact Name – Dr. Kathleen Moran, Executive Director of Human Resources

STAFF PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

ID badges can be obtained by making an appointment with the Word Processing Office at the Crosby Administration Building. Please call extension 7538 between 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

Each employee must provide their Employee Identification Number at the time of their appointment in order to procure an identification badge.

Thank you very much.