Unlike public schools which require all faculty and staff to have criminal background checks and mandatory reporter training, private schools do not. As noted by Bobby J. Dixon, M. Ed., Director of Non-Public Education at the NC Department of Administration, “It is not in our statute to require criminal background checks of private school employees. It is the decision of each private school whether they conduct such checks.” This puts child safety at risk.
On Tuesday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m., the House Education K-12 Committee will discuss House Bill 775 "Criminal History Checks for School Positions."
The bill will require criminal background checks for people seeking to open a charter school. It adds other requirements, but the bill only addresses traditional public schools and charter schools, not private schools!
Why is this bill NOT requiring criminal background checks for private school educators? Currently only one staff person at a private school—the staff person with the highest decision-making authority—must pass a criminal background check.
Please contact members of the House Education K-12 Committee to urge them to amend House Bill 775 to require criminal background checks and the free NC mandatory reporter training for all educators employed at private schools that accept state voucher funds.
The state has spent nearly half a billion taxpayer dollars on private school tuition this year alone. North Carolinians have the right to expect that the state is putting regulations in place to keep our children safe.
Link to committee page listing members and assistants: NC House Education K-12
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