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 RAPTOR, as our online system that streamlines the acquisition, processing, tracking, and approving of background checks and clearances for District volunteers, volunteer coaches, club sponsors, and boosters. Establishing a Raptor account does not automatically get you the appropriate clearances and background checks. You must visit the appropriate website and obtain each clearance (SEE BELOW FOR LINKS/INFORMATION ON OBTAINING CLEARANCES as well as tips on how to upload documents.)

Building/PTA Volunteers (Non-Board Approved) Volunteer Clearance Management System is now Raptor. Please use this link for your Initial Application and to upload valid clearances: Raptor Volunteer Initial Application. Once your Volunteer Account has been approved, you will receive an email confirmation. PLEASE HAVE ALL THREE (3) REQUIRED CLEARANCES READY TO UPLOAD BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR RAPTOR APPLICATION.

Volunteer Coaches/Sponsors; Program Volunteers; Overnight Chaperones (Board Approved) Volunteer Clearance Management System is now Raptor. Please use this link for your Initial Application and to upload the SIX (6) required and valid clearances: Raptor Volunteer Initial Application. Once your Volunteer Account has been approved, you will receive an email confirmation. PLEASE HAVE ALL SIX (6) REQUIRED CLEARANCES READY TO UPLOAD BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR RAPTOR APPLICATION.

Paid Coaches, Substitutes, and Paraprofessionals (All are Board Approved) our Clearance Management System for paid employees is Comply. Your Comply account will be created for you and you will receive a notification on how to proceed with uploading your clearances. Any questions on clearances may be directed to [email protected].

CLEARANCE INFORMATION - Clearances must be renewed every five years.

ACT 34 CLEARANCE (PA Criminal Background Check)

ACT 151 CLEARANCE (PA Child Abuse History)

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 and have no offenses listed.

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 less expensive 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.

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

Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training - University of Pittsburgh - FREE
Professional Ethics and Educator Discipline Act - 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)

Tips for uploading your Clearance Documents into the Clearance Application system:
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 the Clearance Application System, 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