Background Checks / Clearances

The State of Pennsylvania has taken a big step in keeping children safe by passing the PA Act 153 of 2014. This law helps to ensure that any adults who come in contact with children, either paid employees or unpaid volunteers, complete a comprehensive and regularly updated criminal and child abuse background check.

Norwin School District is pleased to announce Safe Kids, an online system that streamlines the acquisition, processing, tracking, and approving of background checks and clearances for District substitutes, volunteers, club sponsors, boosters and contractors. Establishing a Safe Kids account does not automatically get you the appropriate clearances and background checks. You must visit the appropriate website and obtain each clearance.

CLEARANCE INFORMATION - Clearances must be renewed every five years.

ACT 34 CLEARANCE (PA Criminal Background Check)

ACT 151 CLEARANCE (PA Child Abuse History)

PLEASE NOTE: You must use Internet Explorer Browser, Google will not let you finalize the process.

When creating an application for your Child Abuse History clearance, you will be asked for a KEYSTONE ID. This ID is a "USERNAME" that you create for yourself to log into the system. Please ensure that you write your Keystone ID and password down for future reference.

VOLUNTEER FBI WAIVER

For VOLUNTEERS ONLY who have been a PA resident for the past ten (10) consecutive years

FBI CHECK (IdentoGO)
(Federal Criminal History - Fingerprint)

Service Code to use when Applying:
- 1KG6XN -This is the Service Code to use for PA Dept. of Ed.**
*There is a service code for VOLUNTEERS, however, the fee for a volunteer FBI clearance is $1.00 cheaper than the fee to obtain the same clearance for employment purposes. If you obtain a volunteer FBI check, you are NOT able to use it for employment purposes, and will have to pay for it again, should the need arise. It is suggested that you use the Employee Service Code.

** PLEASE NOTE: There is an option on IdentoGO's home page that says "FBI History Check." This is NOT the correct option to choose because (a) it states it's only for personal use, and (b) it's for RETAIL SERVICES, which is not acceptable per PDE. Also, the cost for this Retail Services clearance is currently $50.00 vs. the $23.85 for the acceptable PDE clearance. If you use the above-referenced code, you will be directed to the correct application.

FAQ'S on fingerprinting procedures

ACT 126 TRAINING (THERE ARE 2 PARTS TO THIS TRAINING; BOTH ARE MANDATORY)

Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training (Part I) - University of Pittsburgh - FREE
Professional Ethics and Educator Discipline Act (Part II) - SAS Portal - FREE
* See attached instructions for SAS Portal

ACT 24 FORM

(Self-Reporting Arrest/Conviction - 3 pages)

PHYSICAL FORM

(For permanently hired employees and Substitute Cafeteria Workers and Cafeteria Monitors)

ACT 168 (for New Hires/Volunteers only)
A Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form must be filled out and returned to the Human Resources Office for:

(1) Current Employer, regardless of whether the employer is a school entity and/or whether the applicant is employed in a position that involves direct contact with children;
(2) All former employers that were school entities (regardless of job title); and
(3) All former employers where the applicant was employed in a position that involved direct contact with children.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING

All permanently hired employees will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screening at his/her own expense. For additional details, please refer to the District policy for Pre-Employment Drug Testing. (Policies are consistent for Administrative, Professional & Classified Employees)

SAFE KIDS CLEARANCE APPLICATION (Click to access the link to Safe Kids)
All substitutes, student teachers, coaches and volunteers will be required to complete a Safe Kids Application before being issued a Photo ID badge and/or being permitted on school property or to begin working. Please allow ample processing time for your Safe Kids account to be approved before expecting to work.

The Safe Kids Software system offers these convenient features:

Efficient tracking of applicable background checks/clearance documents.
Email notifications of background checks/clearance expiration.
Easy update and renewal of your applicable background checks/clearances. All clearances MUST be renewed every 5 years.
Upon approval, access to the Norwin School District ACT 153 clearance compliance certificate.

How to submit your Background Checks/Clearances via the Safe Kids System:

Determine what background checks and clearance documents you will need using the chart below.
Obtain the determined clearances and background checks by accessing the sites hyperlinked in the chart header row. NOTE: The Safe Kids system will also outline how to obtain each clearance once you access the site and establish an account.
Access the Safe Kids system via the link below.
Create an account and enter your demographic information. Please note that the email address you provide will be used for expiration notices.
Obtain clearance documentation and upload the documentation yourself or by visiting a clearance processing center at the district (see chart below for locations).
District personnel will process and approve your background checks and clearance documents.
You will receive an email when your documents have been accepted. The email will include a link for a certificate of Act 153 compliance. Please bring this certificate, along with a valid photo ID, to the computer center to obtain your Norwin photo ID badge during their hours listed below. You must have your ID Badge in view in order to volunteer, work, or assist with District sponsored events.
Please note that establishing a Safe Kids account does not automatically get you the appropriate clearances and background checks. You must visit the appropriate clearance/background check website and obtain each clearance/background check which is to be uploaded to your Safe Kids account.

Uploading your Clearance Documents into the Safe Kids system tips:
Smartphone apps such as Camscanner, can be used to take photos and create PDF versions of documents

for easy upload into the system.

If you have questions regarding clearances or Safe Kids, please contact the

Human Resource Department at 724-861-3027.

CLICK HERE to review the Norwin School District Clearances (Certifications) policy which includes definitions and examples of each staff and volunteer type.

*PHOTO ID CENTER HOURS

Tuesdays and Thursdays

7:45 am to 11:30 am

and

1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

*If you are unable to arrive during these hours, you may call

724-861-3024 for an appointment.

*Hours are subject to change during summer months and for holidays.

Employee Type	Act 34	Act 151	FBI	Act 24	Act 126 Parts 1&2	Act 168 (New Hires)	Who processes your Account?
Full/Part-Time Staff	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	HR Department at Administration Building
Assistive / Classroom/School Presentation Volunteers	Needed (FREE)	Needed (FREE)	Needed*				Main office of a school your student(s) attend
Program Volunteers/Overnight Chaperones; Volunteer Coaches /Sponsors	Needed (FREE)	Needed (FREE)	Needed*	Needed	Needed	Needed	HR Department at Administration Building
Athletic Event Staff	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	HR Department at Administration Building
Contracted Services	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	Needed	HR Department at Administration Building

* Per Act 15, FBI (Fingerprint/Federal Criminal History) is NOT required if: 1) the volunteer has been a resident of the Commonwealth of PA during the entirety of the previous 10-year period (waiver form required); or 2) if not a resident of the Commonwealth of PA – during the entirety of the previous 10-year period, but has received an FBI clearance/certification at any time since establishing a residency in the Commonwealth of PA and provides a copy of the clearance/certification