Mandatory Clearances
Section 111 of the School Code requires background checks for all school entities (public and non-public), employees, coaches, volunteers, contractors, and student teachers, who have direct contact with children. The required background checks are now required to be updated every five years.
While the law states that any of the three required background checks may now be used by potential applicants for up to five years, our District requirement remains that clearances must be within one year of the date of hire:
The following documents are mandatory components for any candidate to be recommended for employment:
- Pennsylvania State Police Clearance – use this link to apply online or this link to download the free form for printing and mailing.
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance – use this link to apply online or this link to download the form for printing and mailing.
- FBI Background Check – use this link to begin the application process. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has partnered with IDEMIA to provide a secure capture transmission of applicant fingerprints at IdentoGO Centers, which are located throughout the state. Additional information for this process can be found here. To begin the fingerprinting registration process, please follow these steps:
1. Enter the service code for Pennsylvania school district employees. The code is 1KG6XN. Before proceeding, ensure the top of the web page says “PDE School Districts.”
2. Complete the online registration process.
3. Following online registration, use the code provided during the registration process and report to an IdentoGO fingerprinting facility. Facilities and hours of operation can be found online here.
Act 168 Disclosure Release – for all new applicants, you must complete this required Act 168 Disclosure Release prior to employment.
Mandated Reporter Training Certificate of Completion
All new coaches and volunteer coaches are required to either provide proof of the Mandated Reporter Training (Act 126), or complete the free training on their own time (link provided here): www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu (type in to access this) This training must be completed every five years.
Cardiac Concussion Form
Below are the links that are required for scholastic coaches to meet the mandates of the Commonwealth pertaining to concussion and cardiac education. If you recall, these courses cannot be taken before July 1st of each year. Coaches don’t have to renew these for each season or sport they coach, but must complete one concussion course and the cardiac course before their first season of coaching. If you took the course last year you still have to take it this year.Just remember: “Every coach, Every year”. This includes both paid and volunteer coaches. The links below are the only ones I am aware of that are approved to meet the mandate. I have tested each of the links and they connect to the online course. You have 5+ weeks after July 1st to get this done if you are a fall sport coach. Fall sports begin on Monday, August 17th with the exception of football that has heat acclimatization starting August 10th. Those football coaches need this completed prior to August 7th. Please do these as soon as you can and turn in those certificates so I can check you off as having taken the courses. I am asking that ALL head coaches forward or share these links with those on their staff so there are no hiccups and everyone meets the requirements. If you are not a fall sport coach then please know that your deadline will be either November 20th (winter sports) or March 8th (spring sports) to turn those certificates in.CONCUSSION COURSES: (Only need to take one of the concussion courses.)https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61151/concussion-in-sportshttps://sportsafety.com/pennsylvania/
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html (New link this year)
CARDIAC COURSES: (Only need to take one of the cardiac courses.)
https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61032/sudden-cardiac-arrest
https://sportsafety.com/cardiacwise-pats/
PIAA Requirements
Once you complete the courses, save a PDF copy of the certificate and upload that to your account on the PIAA website. If you need help with creating or logging into your PIAA account, use the link: http://www.piaa.org/news/details.aspx?ID=3634
You will receive a link to Vector Training from Cindy Donovan upon Board approval along with instructions for completing the required Coaching Education courses as well as any other District required training.
Also, below is the link for the PIAA Mandated Rules Interpretation meetings that those sports require the head coach to attend. Please check the link and find a rules meeting that fits your schedule. Failure on your part to attend will mean the fine of $100 or taking an online course at your expense to pass the requirement. You’ll find one in District 7 (WPIAL) or District 8 (Pittsburgh) to fit your needs.
Other PIAA Coach Requirements