Background Check

Requirements for Fingerprinting Students in Professional Education Programs

 

Connecticut law requires all students in teacher/educator certification programs to undergo state and national criminal history background checks before participating in school-based field experiences and student teaching.  The procedures for obtaining the background checks and the length of time they are valid are established by the State Department of Education and cannot be altered.  You will be responsible for the cost of the background check.
As part of the background check, you will need to be fingerprinted.  If you do not pass the background check, you may be unable to complete your chosen degree program at Southern Connecticut State University.  The University will not be responsible for your inability to complete your chosen degree program. Every reasonable effort will be made to place you; however, if you do not pass the required background check and cannot be placed, you will be unable to complete your program. 
All teacher candidates participating in any field experiences in schools are subject to this law. 

 

Note: Students registered for any of the following classes are required to be fingerprinted and have a background check completed.

EDU 200, EDU 201, EDU 206, EDU 300, EDU 309, EDU 312, EDU 400, EDU 405, EDU 413, EDU 450, EDU 451, EDU 539, ENG 494, EXS 291, EXS 292, EXS 350, EXS 394, EXS 495, HIS 494, IDS/SED 449, ILS 581, MAT 494, SCE 494, SED 365, SED 435, SED 519, SED 529, SED 539, SED 596, and WLL 452.

*This may not be a complete list as course assignments are subject to change. Check with your advisor to be sure you know the courses in which background checks are required for your program.

In addition, graduate students in Master's and Sixth Year programs who are completing clinical experiences or research with children in the schools must get the background check completed.

  •Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), 350 State Street, North Haven, CT, conducts fingerprinting and background checks for SCSU students. Please contact ACES at 203-498-6800 to schedule an appointment. ACES does fingerprinting by appointment only. The fee for this service is $53.25 payable to ACES by cash, money order, or cashier's check. It is the student's responsibility to pay the fee. Personal checks, debit cards, or credit cards are not accepted.

•Directions to ACES Central Administration Building are available at: http://www.aces.org/directions/index.aspx
•At the time of fingerprinting, ACES will issue the student a receipt indicating that the fingerprinting has been completed.

 

•All students must bring the original receipt to the School of Education Office of Student Support Services in Davis 103. Proof of fingerprinting will be recorded.

 

•Keep the original fingerprinting receipt.Students must take it with them to their placement sites.   

 

FAQs - Fingerprinting and Background Checks


Who is responsible for the results of the background check being received by the district where I have been assigned for my placement?

It is the teacher candidate's responsibility to ensure that the results of the fingerprint-based background report is received by the district. To have the results sent to the district, email mtorres@aces.org with permission to release records to the school district in which you are placed. The district must receive the results before you can begin your field experience. If the district does not receive the results by the beginning of the semester, the placement may be canceled and the student withdrawn from the class. 

 

 

What courses require fingerprinting in order to participate in field experiences?

EDU 200, EDU 201, EDU 206, EDU 300, EDU 309, EDU 312, EDU 400, EDU 405, EDU 413, EDU 450, EDU 451, EDU 539, IDS/SED 449, ENG 494, WLL 452, MAT 494, SCE 494, HIS 494, and sections of SED 365 and SED 435 that include field experiences.

 

Additional Master's and 6th year program courses may also require fingerprinting.

 

Do I have to get fingerprinted through ACES if I have already been fingerprinted through another town or other agency?

Yes, you need to get fingerprinted through ACES.  The State Department of Education has designated the Regional Educational Service Centers (RESC) as the agencies to complete the fingerprinting and background checks.  ACES is the RESC that serves SCSU and the majority of districts that SCSU uses for field experiences.

 

Do I have to get fingerprinted if I am already working for a school district?

If you are a permanent employee of a school district in a position that requires fingerprinting, you may or may not be able to use your fingerprinting. Both of the following criteria must be met to use your current fingerprinting:

a) All your placements must be in the district where you are employed.  THIS IS RARE. Most programs require their teacher candidates to do a variety of placements to provide exposure to urban, suburban, and rural settings.  Placements will not be adjusted to accommodate a teacher candidate's fingerprinting.

b) You must provide proof of employment and fingerprinting to the School of Education.  This can be a signed short statement from a school district or school official verifying you are employed and providing the date of the fingerprinting. Other documentation may also be acceptable. 

 

I am NOT taking any Professional Program classes that require field experiences this semester.  Do I have to get fingerprinted now?

You may wait until the semester before you take a field experience class.  Be aware that all teacher candidates enrolled in the classes on the field experience course list will be monitored for compliance with the fingerprinting requirements.  If you add a field experience class later, you must comply with the fingerprinting requirement before your field placement can be made.

 

What happens if the background check reveals a prior conviction, arrest, or issue in my background? 

Please note that SCSU does not receive the FBI and CT State Police Report but is notified by the Connecticut State Department of Education of prior convictions or issues.  The certification officer, Ken Bungert, notifies students when incidents are reported. Teacher candidates contact Ken Bungert at 203-392-6295 in Davis Hall, Room 103, to discuss the incident(s) and possible issues and options. The consequences of any incident depend on the nature of the incident and the policies of the school district, SCSU, and state certification regulations. If necessary, the Incident Review Committee will review the case to determine the appropriate action. Be aware that some districts have a zero tolerance policy and will not accept students with any incidents on their reports.  It may not be possible to place a teacher candidate with an incident in a school setting. Teacher candidates who do not pass the background check may be unable to complete their chosen program at Southern Connecticut State University. The University is not responsible for teacher candidates' inability to complete their chosen degree or certification program if they are unable to do so as a result of the background check.

 

What if I have a conviction or other issue and SCSU does not place me? 


Students who do not pass the background check may be unable to complete their chosen degree program at Southern Connecticut State University. The University is not responsible if you are unable to complete your chosen degree or certification program as a result of the background check.  You will be advised on other non-education majors you might pursue. 

 

What districts does ACES serve?

Ansonia                 North Haven                            

Bethany                 Orange      

Branford                Oxford      

Cheshire                Region 5 (Amity)      

Derby                     Region 13 (Durham, Middlefield       

East Haven             Region 16 (Beacon Falls, Prospect)       

Hamden                  Seymour

Meriden                 Wallingford  

Middletown           Waterbury

Milford                  West Haven

Naugtatuck             Wolcott

New Haven             Woodbridge

North Branford    

 

What if I am placed in a district not served by ACES?

If you are placed in a district not served by ACES, you will need to request that ACES send your background report to the RESC that serves the district in which you are placed. The RESC can release the report to your district.  ACES will release the report to your placement district. Please contact Madeline Torres at mtorres@aces.orgto complete this request.

 

What if I did my fingerprinting at a RESC other than ACES?

If you are fingerprinted at RESC "A" (not ACES) and you are placed in RESC "A", request that RESC "A" send your background report to the district where you are placed. 

If you are fingerprinted in RESC "A" (not ACES) and you are placed in RESC "B", request that RESC "A" send your background report to RESC "B". Then, contact RESC "B" and request that your background report be sent to the district.


How long is the fingerprinting valid?

Provided the candidate has maintained continuous enrollment, candidate must submit for criminal background checks every 3 years (subject to district agreement).