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Background Clearance Information

Pennsylvania School Law requires that all applicants for employment in public and private schools, as well as  employees of independent contractors seeking business with public and private schools, undergo background checks if they will have direct contact with students.
 
The following three background checks are required:
  • Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
  • Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
  • Federal Criminal History Background Check

Clearances obtained for employment purposes are acceptable for volunteer purposes.  Clearances obtained for volunteer purposes are not acceptable for employment purposes. Employees are required to report changes in clearances status within 72 hours of the applicable event. Clearances must be renewed every five (5) years.

There is a different process regarding clearances for volunteer purposes.

PA Child Abuse History Clearance 

Creating an account and submitting your clearance application online will give you access to your results or the status of your results if your results cannot be processed immediately.  Follow the instructions on the website.  Payment is made by credit card.  The clearance report can be printed.

Cost:  $13.00  (price changes without notification to SCASD)

Paper Submission

Paper submissions of the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance application are accepted for anyone who may not have access to the internet. The paper application is available in the Human Resources Office.  Submit the paper application and payment to:

ChildLine and Abuse Registry 
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
PO Box 8170
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8170

For questions related to the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, please contact the ChildLine Verification Unit at 717-783-6211 or toll free at 1-877-371-5422.

PA State Police Criminal Record Check

Applicants can apply online via the Pennsylvania Access to the Criminal History (PATCH) website.  Follow the instructions on the website.  Payment is made by credit card.  Please write down the Control Number and the Request Date - this information will be required in order to inquire on the status of a record check.  The clearance report can be printed.

Cost:  $22.00  (price changes without notification to SCASD)

Paper Submission

To apply by mail, applicants can obtain the Form SP4-164 from the Human Resources Office or a PA State Police Barrack.  Submit the paper application and payment to:

Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository-164
1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.

The State Police will return the Criminal Record Check to the applicant by mail.

If you have questions about the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, please call: (717) 783-9973 or toll free 1-888-783-7972.

Federal Criminal History Background Check, Fingerprints

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has contracted with IDEMIA to process the FBI criminal history checks.  As explained below, this is a three step process:  registration, fingerprinting, and reporting. Cost:  $25.25 (payable by major credit cards, money orders, or cashier’s checks payable to MorphoTrust. No cash transactions or personal checks are allowed - price changes without notification to SCASD)

Registration

The first step is to enroll online or over the phone. The registration website is available online 24 hours/day, seven days per week. Telephonic registration is available at 1-844-321-2101 Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST. During the pre-enrollment process, all demographic data for the applicant is collected (name, address, etc.) along with notices about identification requirements and other important information. 

When registering online, an applicant must use 1KG6XN as the appropriate agency specific Service Code.  Using the correct service code ensures that the background check is submitted for the correct purpose.  Fingerprint requests processed through any other service code cannot be accepted by the District and are not transferrable.  If an applicant enters the wrong code by mistake, the incorrect applicant type will appear at the top of the screen.  In this case, the applicant should select the “Back to Home” button and begin the process again, by reentering the correct Service Code. If the applicant proceeds with the process under the incorrect code, the pre-enrollment and/or results cannot be transferred to another state agency and the applicant will have to start the process over and pay for the background check again.

Fingerprinting

After registration, the applicant proceeds to the fingerprint site of their choice for fingerprinting. The location of the fingerprint sites and days and hours of operation for each site are posted on IDEMIA's website. The location of fingerprint sites may change over time; applicants are encouraged to confirm the site location nearest to their location.

At the fingerprint site, applicants are required to produce a qualified State or Federal photo ID before the fingerprint process is started. A list of approved ID types may be found on the IDEMIA website.  Applicants will not be processed if they cannot produce an acceptable photo ID. After the identity of the applicant has been established, all ten fingers are scanned to complete the process.

Reporting

Applicants present their UEID to the Human Resources Office (as shown on the receipt provided after fingerprint capture).  If an applicant has lost their receipt or needs to confirm their UEID, the applicant may visit the UEP website and check the status of their file by providing alternate personal information. Applicants will enter their personal information after clicking in the lower portion of that screen to obtain their receipt with the UEID.

Applicants will receive an unofficial copy of their report.  However, the District is required to review the official CHRI online and print a file copy of the CHRI.