Texas Public School Employees Fingerprinted
By: Danielle Todesco
Updated: January 16, 2008
New legislation starting this year requires all Texas educators to be fingerprinted for criminal background checks. Current and newly employed teachers must be fingerprinted...and their information kept on file notifying of any convictions.
The files will also be updated with any new convictions. L.I.S.D. employees have already started receiving notifications to get fingerprinted.
Now, some teachers feel it is a violation of their rights and unfairly singles out teachers. But others say it's necessary to protect the safety of children in public schools.
"I think we need to be reminded that teaching is a profession that people are not coming to it in droves, they're leaving it in droves."
"I feel very very strongly that the safest place for kids is the school setting. Because everyone in that building has gone through a background check."
All teachers and employees of Texas Public School Districts will be fingerprinted by 2011.
