Act 1173 of 2009 requires that child maltreatment central registry checks be requested through the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) under certain circumstances by licensed teachers and all classified employees of an Arkansas school district.
Beginning July 31, 2009, all first time applicants for teacher licensure (from a traditional Arkansas teacher preparation program, Teach For America, ADE Non-Traditional Program, Non-Traditional MAT or MED Program or by reciprocity) and each applicant for first license renewal on or after July 1, 1997, shall be required to request a child maltreatment central registry check to be conducted by the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Teachers successfully clearing the required State Police and FBI background checks and have renewed their teaching license at least once after July 1, 1997, shall not be required to request the central registry check. Teachers who have never renewed their standard teaching license shall request the central registry check upon their first renewal. All teachers changing school districts are also required to request the Central Registry check.
The applicant shall sign a release of information to the Department of Education and shall be responsible for the payment of the fee associated with the central registry check.
The State Board of Education shall not issue a first-time license nor renew an existing license and shall revoke any existing license not up for renewal of any person who has a true report in the child maltreatment central registry. No person holding a license issued by the State Board of Education shall be eligible for employment by a local school district if the results of the central registry check released to the Department of Education reveal that the applicant has a true report in the child maltreatment central registry.
Licensed individuals that have a disqualifying offense on the criminal background checks or have a true report on the child maltreatment central registry check can request a waiver before the State Board of Education.
Beginning July 31, 2009, an Arkansas local school district or educational service cooperative shall require as a condition for initial employment or non-continuous reemployment of all non-licensed personnel, a child maltreatment central registry check through the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The applicant shall sign a release of information to the Department of Education and shall be responsible for the payment of any fee associated with the central registry check.
No person, including without limitation non-licensed persons who provide services as a substitute teacher, shall be eligible for employment, whether initial employment, reemployment, or continued employment, by a local school district or educational service cooperative in a non-licensed staff position if that person has a true report in the child maltreatment central registry.
Each public school district may (but is not required) at its discretion require criminal background checks and child maltreatment central registry checks for existing non-certified employees. Any school district which by a vote of the local school board of directors requires criminal background checks and child maltreatment central registry checks for existing noncertified employees shall pay the full cost of both.
Employees (licensed and non-licensed) whether new or existing, who have a contract with or work for more than one school district in one year shall be required to have only one criminal background check and one child maltreatment central registry check to satisfy the requirements of all employing school districts for that year.
If an applicant for employment as a non-certified employee with a school district has been determined ineligible for employment because the applicant has a true report in the child maltreatment central registry, the local school board of directors shall provide a written notice to the applicant and shall afford the applicant the opportunity to request a waiver before the local school board.
The application form for requesting the child maltreatment central registry check is attached. The company name on the application shall be the Arkansas Department of Education, Four Capitol Mall, Room 106B, Little Rock, AR 72201. The telephone number requested shall be 501-682-4342. The application shall be completed in its entirety, signed and notarized. Mail to the address listed in the first paragraph at the top of the application along with the required fee.
Please refer any questions regarding the central registry checks to Ron Tolson, Coordinator, Professional Licensure at 501-683-3126 or by e-mail at ron.tolson@arkansas.gov.