Update on Background Checks Process Improvements

Earlier this week, Superintendent Thomas Taylor shared an important community message and frequently asked questions about our work to strengthen background screening processes for every adult who works with or around children in Montgomery County Public Schools. Our top priority remains unchanged: ensuring every student’s safety.

We are significantly ramping up our efforts through our action plan shared with you and more in close collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. These additional efforts will improve how background checks are completed, prioritize screenings for new hires, and ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers are appropriately cleared to work with students.

In the coming days, we will provide more details about exactly how this work will be carried out. Key elements of the effort include:

• A system-wide effort to reverify background checks and enroll staff in a continuous monitoring system.
• On-site services at schools and central locations to make the process faster and more convenient.
• A clear focus on clearing new employees quickly to support the start of the school year.
• Continued assurance that no adult will be allowed unsupervised access to students without all required background and child protective services clearances. 
• A commitment to keep current employees in their roles while completing this process. All staff currently working have had criminal background checks.

More updates will be shared with you and our staff soon.