Background Checks for School Staff, Volunteers

The Department of Education is introducing consistent and rigorous standards for screening adults who are in contact with school children.

Beginning in September, police and child abuse registry checks will be required for all new staff, volunteers, teacher education students and other adults who have contact with children in the school system. Three references will also be required.

"The safety of children while they are in the care of the school system is our top priority," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "We're working with school boards to put stronger measures in place to protect students from harm."

All boards already require one or more of these checks and references. The strategy will ensure that boards have consistent and rigorous policies on screening adults who are in contact with children in schools by the fall.

"Our strategy targets everyone applying for employment, offering volunteer time and providing other necessary services in our schools," said Ms. Purves. "To protect our students and in fairness to adults coming into the system, we need consistency in school board policies across the province."

Individuals will be responsible for having their own background checks completed. Volunteers will not have to pay for their background checks in jurisdictions where police charge fees for this service.

Reference check records are subject to privacy through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The department and school boards will work together to ensure that proper records management policies are in place at the board level.

The department and school boards are also reviewing policies to ensure consistent standards for dealing with inappropriate behaviour are in place. Steps will be taken to ensure that all employees understand the standards, including their obligation to report inappropriate behaviour.

Under an agreement of the Council of Education Ministers, Canada, all provinces and territories have a new obligation to report certain information about teachers. They must advise other Canadian jurisdictions when a teacher is terminated by a school board or not hired due to information found through the records check or when a teacher resigns or retires due to inappropriate behaviour.

Amendments to Education Act regulations will require school boards to report these cases to the department's registrar of teacher certification so that information can be shared across the country.