Background Checks Required for Indiana School Employees

A new state law requiring schools in Indiana to increase their background check (Click here) efforts on potential employees has passed.

House Bill 1462, which took effect July 1, requires schools to conduct expanded criminal background checks on certified and non-certified applicants and employees.

Under the law, schools must adopt policies that cover the criminal history information for anyone who applies for a job at the school and those who work for a contractor employed at the school.

Prior to the new law, school districts used an Indiana State Police database to conduct free, limited checks on a potential employee's criminal background.

According to an article by nwi.com, the new law is leading several school districts to begin completing increased criminal background checks on parents and others who volunteer at school, chaperone dances or take students on overnight trips.

"When the new law came into effect, which said all employees had to have a Level 3 (nationwide) search, which can turn up anything from a traffic ticket to a felony, we made sure that anyone who works around children is checked out," Randy Harkabus, assistant to the Munster schools superintendent, said in the article.

Indiana school code does not require parents or volunteers to undergo background checks, but local school districts can opt to perform the checks if they choose.

Several schools throughout the state have begun completing background checks on volunteers, including Munster schools, Lake Central School Corp., the School City of Hammond, Tri-Creek School Corp., Lansing Elementary District and Crete-Monee School District.