Who is required to be fingerprinted?
All certified educators (campus and central), all substitute teachers and all classroom paraprofessionals (certified and non-certified).
MISD will send a list of all employees and SBEC will determine those who need fingerprinting and will notify each employee who needs to be fingerprinted by email. This is why the email in the SBEC profile must be accurate.
What is the cost for fingerprints?
The current cost for fingerprints is $52.20 which includes a criminal history review fee of $42.25 and the fingerprint capture fee of $9.95.
Who is required to pay for fingerprints?
For existing certified educators who are now subject to the fingerprinting law, the state will cover the cost of the fingerprinting as long as the educator was employed full-time in a Texas public school during the 2006-07 school year. If the certified employee was not actively working full-time in a Texas public school at the time the fingerprint requirement became law (2006-07 school year) the certified educator will need to pay online to SBEC. The District will reimburse certified educators who must pay online. New teachers certified after January 1, 2008 were fingerprinted by L-1 prior to certification.
I am a certified substitute teacher; do I pay for my fingerprinting?
You will pay fees of $52.20 for the fingerprinting unless you have already been through this process in another school district or with SBEC.
I’ve been fingerprinted before, do I have to fingerprint again?
Yes, unless you were fingerprinted by another district that has already been through this process with the state or you fingerprinted with SBEC previously. SBEC has stated that all individuals fingerprinted after January 1, 2008, will not have to be fingerprinted. SBEC states the previous SBEC fingerprints may be utilized but the only way to be certain is to see if you show up on the list to be fingerprinted when MISD receives the information from the state. If you were fingerprinted for State Licensure (i.e., real estate, nurse, etc) or Firearms process, you still have to fingerprint through this process. The Texas Department of Public Safety and TEA have indicated that this background check will go through a different type of database.
What if some employees have been fingerprinted in another state?
SB 9 requires that certain school employees be fingerprinted in such a way that their national criminal histories can be reported and updated in through the DPS clearinghouse. It is not possible for DPS to transfer existing fingerprint data into the clearinghouse. Therefore, even if school employees that SB 9 requires be fingerprinted have previously been fingerprinted for certification in another state, they will have to be fingerprinted again so that their criminal histories and updates can be entered into the clearinghouse.
When will I get fingerprinted?
Sometime in November or December, schedules will be created once the District receives more information.
Where will I get fingerprinted?
Fingerprinting will be conducted at each MISD campus for campus employees. Personnel will provide the campus with a detailed schedule of all employees who must be fingerprinted and the time for each employee. There will be several mobile L-1 machines brought to the district and the process will require strict scheduling at all campuses. Central staff will have their own schedule. Substitutes will be fingerprinted at the MISD Police Department or another approved L-1 location.
Can substitute teachers be fingerprinted at a site with the mobile units or with the teachers at the campus?
No, substitutes will use one of the L1 locations. The MISD Police Department is an L-1 location.
What identification do I need when I am fingerprinted?
You will need to bring your Texas driver’s license (or Texas State issued ID). The name on your certificate must be the same as your name on your identification.
If you are not certified, you will need to bring your current Texas driver’s license.
If my first and last name on my certificate does not match my driver’s license, how do I change my certificate?
Log onto SBEC online for Educators here. If you already have an SBEC account, use the “login”button.
If you do not, click on the “New user? Create a new account” link and create an account with the username and password. Follow the instructions to review your profile and make the appropriate changes. Be sure to use your current e-mail address.
Can I change my name again on my certificate after fingerprinting?
Yes, you may change your name on your certificate after you have been fingerprinted.
How long does it take for a name change to appear on my certificate?
It takes about 24 hours for the name change to be reflected on your certificate.
What happens to the information that is gathered as a result of the fingerprinting?
National criminal history information on all educators will be maintained by DPS (Department of Public Safety) in the state database or clearinghouse.
How will I know that my personal information is safe?
The state’s clearinghouse complies with the security policy imposed by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division for the purpose of safeguarding data collected though background checks. That policy sets forth information technology security requirements deemed acceptable by the federal government for the transmission, processing and storage of criminal history data.
What happens if I don’t comply with the fingerprinting law?
Complying with the fingerprinting mandate is required by state law. If an employee does not submit to the fingerprinting process, the employee is subject to the 80-day rule meaning that if the person misses the window assigned to Mansfield ISD, his/her certificate will be placed on inactive status. An inactive status means you cannot work in any role that requires certification. Employees with inactive certificates will not be allowed to continue working.
What do I do if my fingerprints are rejected?
Some fingerprints will be rejected by the FBI due to poor quality. If your fingerprints are rejected, you will receive an email with the information on the rejection and the need to reprint. You are still subject to the 80-day window and should make arrangements to be re-printed by calling IBT (L-1) scheduling center at 888-467-2080 immediately to request an appointment for resubmission of fingerprints. The MISD Police Department is an L-1 location. You will not be charged for the reprints due to a rejection.
How long does it take for the district to receive information after I have been fingerprinted?
The current estimate is 4 days.
If I move to another school district, will I have to be fingerprinted again?
Once you have been fingerprinted and entered into the state educator’s database, you do not have to be fingerprinted again. If you leave the school district, the district will no longer have access to your criminal history records. Non-certified employees who were hired prior to January 1, 2008 would be fingerprinted as a new hire, if they moved to another school district.
For additional questions, please contact Dr. Linda Chance at chanli@mansfieldisd.org. |
