Required Clearances for Working in Pennsylvania Schools

As of April 1, 2007, all prospective employes of public and private schools, intermediate units and area vocational-technical schools, including, but not limited to, teachers, substitutes, janitors, cafeteria workers, independent contractors and their employes, except those employees and independent contractors and their employees who have no direct contact with children, are required to provide: 1) a Pennsylvania Criminal History, 2) a Child Abuse History Clearance, 3) a Federal Criminal History Record, and 4) a P.P.D. Tuberculin Test. In addition, any student teacher candidate participating in any classroom teaching, internship, clinical or field experience, shall provide all information required of an employee or prospective employee.

For detailed information about these requirements, refer to the Act 34 and Act 151 Background Checks from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

When Should You Request Clearances?

Undergraduate students should begin the process for obtaining each of the four clearances as soon as you:

1. Register for a course that requires in-field work (see list provided below).
   
   
   • Education 2289: Field Study
   • Early Childhood Education 2321: Curriculum Development
   • Early Childhood Education 3322: Observing, Documenting and Assessing
   • Elementary Education 3287: Practicum: Teaching Elementary Child N-6
   • Elementary Education 3387: Teaching Math & Science Elementary Child
   • Math Ed 3145: Teaching Math in Middle Grades
   • Math Ed 3146: Materials in Secondary Math
   NOTE: Students who fail to provide the instructor with clearances information on or before the first day of classes may, at the discretion of the instructor, be dropped from the class.
2. Submit your application for student teaching.
   
   NOTE: Please submit your clearances to the Student Teaching Office, Ritter Hall, 3rd Floor. You will not be permitted to begin your student teaching assignment without submitting clearances information.

Due to the variety of research requirements and opportunities that may involve working directly with schools or students, it is recommended that Graduate Students complete clearances as soon as they begin their program in the College of Education and keep them current through graduation.

How to Obtain Required Clearances

Questions and Assistance

For questions about clearances related to a course, please contact your instructor. For questions related to student teaching, please contact the Student Teaching Office: email: student.teach@temple.edu or phone: (215) 204-6070.