John Meixner, Regional Superintendent of Schools
Fulton | Hancock | McDonough | Schuyler

ROE26: Fingerprinting Ensures Local Schools are Protected

ROE26: Fingerprinting Ensures Local Schools are Protected

When parents send their children to school, they expect they will be in a safe, welcoming environment. ROE26 is doing its part to keep that promise, via educator fingerprinting.

The Illinois School Code requires school districts to perform a fingerprint-based criminal history records information check, also known as a CHRI check or background check, on school personnel. The Regional Office of Education No. 26, along with all Regional Offices of Education (ROE) and Intermediate Service Centers (ISC) around Illinois, offer live-scan fingerprinting to ensure certain school personnel meet the state law security requirements.

Fingerprint scans are sent electronically and directly to the Illinois State Police and FBI for processing, and results are sent to the appropriate agency. ROE26 provides these CHRI services for the following school and district-related personnel, required under the law to have a criminal background check:

  • Certified and non-certified (maintenance workers, kitchen staff, etc.) applicants for employment with a public school, including charter schools
  • Substitutes, concurrent part-time teachers and concurrent part-time educational support personnel
  • Employees of firms contracting with a school district or nonpublic school, where the employee may come into direct, daily contact with students
  • Bus drivers, if employed by the district
  • Certified and noncertified applicants for employment with an ISBE-recognized nonpublic school
  • Student teachers assigned to public or non-public ISBE-recognized schools

ROE26 also provides non-educational fingerprinting and CHRI services within its four-county service territory: concealed carry, IDFPR licenses, Uniform Information Conviction Act (UCIA), physicians, nurses, massage therapists, locksmiths, security guards and a number of other vocations. ROE26 is able to meet a wide variety of background screening needs through a partnership with Bushue Background Screening, based in Effingham.

“Fingerprinting and background checks are conducted behind the scenes, but their importance to keeping our schools safe should not be underestimated,” said ROE26 Regional Superintendent John Meixner. “We are proud to partner with our law enforcement agencies and school districts to ensure everyone working in our schools is cleared to work with and educate our children safely and securely.”

For further information or to schedule an appointment, contact Molly Hopper at ROE26 at 309-575-3246.

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