Anne Arundel County Public Schools is committed to providing safe and secure learning environments for all students and employees. Successful completion of a background check is required before any person has access to students, either on or off school property. The Office of Investigations has continued to work closely with the Office of School Security to review AACPS protocols for conducting background checks.

Background investigations are divided into two categories: fingerprint-supported background checks and commercial background checks. Once a fingerprint-supported background check is performed, applicants no longer need to submit an electronic background check. Anyone applying to be a chaperone or volunteer must be at least 18 years of age.

Fingerprint Supported Background Check

All employees, coaches, bus drivers, and bus aides, must complete a fingerprint-supported background check prior to beginning employment. Additionally, the following groups of individuals must complete a fingerprint-supported background check:

• All overnight volunteers or chaperones

• All drown proofing volunteers or chaperones 

• All Polar Bear Plunge volunteers and chaperones

• Any volunteer or chaperone with one-on-one unsupervised/unrestricted access to children

• Student teachers

• All Student Services Interns/Practicum students 

• Any intern with one-on-one unsupervised/unrestricted access to children

One-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access- a person having responsibility for a student while not in the direct continuous view of an AACPS employee. This does not include chaperones or volunteers who supervise groups of students (e.g. field trips to the zoo, museum, BSO performance).

Fingerprint-supported background checks must be scheduled through the Fingerprinting Office at 410-222-5045. The Fingerprinting Office is located at the AACPS Central Office on Riva Road and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, during the school year. The cost of fingerprinting is $63.00 and it includes the commercial background check. Fingerprint-supported background checks for chaperones should be completed at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled field trip.

Each applicant requiring a fingerprint-supported background check is provided with a pink Fingerprint Verification Card. This card should be kept with the applicant while on school grounds and should be displayed to an administrator upon request. Each school should keep a running list of chaperones and volunteers that have been fingerprinted.

All questions regarding this process, or to confirm the results of a fingerprint-supported background check should be directed to the Office of Investigations at 410-222-5287.

Commercial Background Check

All chaperones and volunteers without one-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access to students must complete the online request for a commercial background check. This group is inclusive of PTA and PTO officers, CAC officers, Booster Club officers, and chaperones or volunteers who work with children in the presence of an approved AACPS representative (e.g. daytime field trip to the zoo). These background checks are at no cost to the applicant and are valid for 2 years. All applications should be submitted electronically at least 3 weeks prior to the intended school event.

 *Persons without personal computer access may access this process on a school computer or use computers in a public library.

DEFINITIONS

Volunteer - a person who provides a variety of services (e.g., tutoring, mentoring, clerical assistance, chaperoning, athletic coaches, club advisors, field day, etc.) without financial payment from AACPS. A volunteer generally includes persons who regularly, i.e., on more than one isolated occasion, provide scheduled time and service working in an uncompensated capacity. A volunteer may, however, provide uncompensated service on isolated occasions. These types of volunteers frequently include persons who serve as "chaperones" during on and off-campus school events. A volunteer might additionally include student teachers, PTA/PTO officers, and/or office assistants with access to personally-identifiable information, currency and other sensitive matters.

Chaperone - one type of volunteer who provides short-term supervision to students during on-campus and/or off-campus educational activities. The role of the chaperone is to encourage safe and proper student behavior during activities where an AACPS employee cannot reasonably be expected to keep students in his/her exclusive observation. Chaperones, by nature of the duties assigned, are presumed to have uncontrolled access to students.

Visitor - a person who arrives at an AACPS educational location for a short period of time for a specific purpose. Visitors can include family members, vendors, community members and other non-AACPS employees who are doing specific business at that location. Generally, a visitor might have access to students, but this access will be supervised. Supervised access to students occurs when an adult has proximal contact with students while remaining under the direct observation of an AACPS employee. As an example, supervised access to students can occur during "guest reader" events where the visitor provides educational service to students while in the continual presence of an AACPS employee. Other examples of supervised access to students might occur during field day activities (when not assigned as a chaperone or volunteer) and/or science fair judging. Visitors are not required to complete commercial background criminal history checks. Visitors will only be required to present photographic identification that allows school personnel to enter the visitor's name into a software program that checks Registered Sex Offender databases in the United States.

Screening criteria - the standard of judgment for evaluating an applicant's criminal history record against expected standards for persons who have access to students. It is essential that AACPS consider each applicant's criminal history in totality and in the context of law enforcement experience and training. AACPS has the legal and ethical obligation to protect children in the District's care, and as such, no list of disqualifying crimes and adjudicated outcomes can be all-inclusive. Multiple criminal charges are frequently imposed during singular events. Plea negotiations and other legal strategies dramatically impact each case's disposition. Some applicants will have recurrent misdemeanor criminal charges. Some applicants will have serious felony convictions adjudicated decades prior. AACPS must exercise prudent and conservative judgment when reviewing each request that facilitates a person having access to children in the District's care. AACPS retains the exclusive right to approve or deny any unpaid volunteer the opportunity to have access to students based on unique factors in the applicant's criminal history.

Approval period - the length of time an approved commercial background check remains effective. Commercial background checks are valid for two calendar years. AACPS, however, retains the discretion to require a subsequent background investigation of any volunteer within that two-year period. AACPS additionally retains the exclusive right to revoke volunteer authorization for derogatory information coming to the District's attention during the two-year period. 

BACKGROUND CHECK APPLICATION

A valid email address is required to request a commercial background check. Applicants will use the portal below to start the background check process. AACPS utilizes a third-party vendor, Screen ID to perform commercial background checks. Shortly after Screen ID receives the applicant's initial submission, the applicant will receive an email from Screen ID with an acknowledgement of the request. This email will provide instructions for the applicant to continue the background check process by completing all required forms in their entirety. Screen ID will then provide verification to the applicant upon receipt of the completed application. Typically, the results of the background check take approximately 3 weeks to complete. After that 3 week period, the applicant may contact personnel at the school where their student attends, for results. Applications must be made on the Google Chrome platform utilizing a laptop, desk top computer, or tablet; applications submitted via cell phone may not process correctly.

If you have submitted a fingerprint supported background application or are planning to submit a fingerprint supported background check, DO NOT apply for the commercial background check indexed below.

APPLY FOR COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND CHECK

AFTER YOU CLICK "SUBMIT" ON THE INITIAL APPLICATION PAGE, AN EMAIL WILL BE SENT TO YOU FROM "Screen ID" ALLOWING YOU TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

How old must I be to get fingerprinted?

You must be at least 18 years of age.

Do I need a fingerprint-supported background check or commercial background check?

The following chaperones/volunteers need to have a fingerprint-supported background check:

- ALL overnight chaperones, including those on trips to the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center.

- ALL chaperones or volunteers with one-on-one unrestricted access to students.

Chaperones and volunteers must pay the cost of the fingerprint-supported background check.

How do I get fingerprinted?

The AACPS fingerprint office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located in the Carol S. Parham Building at 2644 Riva Road in Annapolis. Fingerprinting is done by appointment only. Please call 410-222-5045 to make an appointment.

Please allow three weeks prior to a scheduled field trip or school visit to schedule a fingerprint-supported background check and/ or commercial background check.

How often do I need to get fingerprinted?

Your fingerprint-supported background check is good through your family’s uninterrupted education with AACPS.

How much does a fingerprint-supported background check cost?

The cost is $63.00.

How much does a commercial background check cost?

The cost of a commercial background check is paid for by AACPS.

Who will notify chaperone/volunteer candidates if they are not approved?

The AACPS Office of Investigations will make individual contact.

Commercial background check failures will be notified by the individual schools.

How will schools know if a chaperone/volunteer candidate is approved or not?

Each applicant will receive a blue verification card that should be presented to the school staff and carried while always on school premises. Schools should also make a copy of the blue card and keep it on file for future reference. Individual schools will be notified by the AACPS Office of Investigations for those applicants who are not approved and/or ineligible.

In addition, if the status of a chaperone/volunteer changes to "ineligible" during the time that their child is in AACPS, the Office of Investigations will contact the parent and the affected schools, to address the change in status.

How will subsequent schools know that fingerprinting was done for a prior a school?

Since the chaperone/volunteer approval status lasts throughout the child's AACPS career, the chaperone/volunteer should carry the blue card and present to the school for verification. Schools do not have access to a centralized chaperone/volunteer database; however, the AACPS Office of Investigations will also be able to verify.

Please note that a chaperone/volunteer's approval status could change if his/her background changes and is not in compliance with AACPS chaperoning/volunteering standards.

Do I need both fingerprint-supported background check and commercial background check?

If you have undergone a fingerprint-supported background check, DO NOT apply for a commercial background check. Fingerprint-supported background checks are valid until the family separates from AACPS. However; if you have undergone a commercial background check and you plan to chaperone/volunteer at an event which requires a fingerprint-supported background check, you MUST then submit to a fingerprint-supported background check (at your own expense).

Where do I get more information?

Questions should be directed to your child’s school. They will assist you in contacting the appropriate office.