Report - A Performance Audit of Public Education Employees' Criminal Background Check

Office of the LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR GENERAL State of Utah REPORT NUMBER 2009-08 April 2009 A Performance Audit of Public Education Employees’ Criminal Background Check Procedures Our review of the criminal background checks of public education employees was concerning because we found numerous criminal convictions. For purposes of clarification throughout this report, public education employees are divided into two distinct groups, licensed educators (teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, etc.) and classified/nonlicensed employees (custodians, teachers’ aides, lunch workers, etc.). In our opinion, the current system for detecting and identifying the criminal histories of individuals employed in public schools is flawed and ineffective. Specifically, we found the following: A review of criminal background checks of • A sample of approximately 1,200 individuals identified 17 public education current employees with concerning criminal convictions. employees found numerous concerns. In Eleven employees had concerning criminal convictions prior to our opinion, the current being hired, and eight individuals had concerning criminal system for detecting and identifying the convictions after being hired. However, two individuals had criminal histories of concerning criminal convictions both before and after hiring. individuals employed in public schools is flawed and ineffective. • We also reviewed the criminal ...