Some schools conduct background checks on teachers, some do not. Some think it is an essential part of the hiring procedure, others believe it is just a waste of money and time. But the truth is it is very important that schools require applicants to undergo background checks before they are hired as teachers.
For one, it is mandated by law. Depending on the state where your school is located, background checks may be mandatory. Job positions that involve working with children, elderly and the disabled are required to submit to an employee background check.
Also, this will help you avoid encountering negligent hiring lawsuits. If you hire a teacher whom you do not know is a sex offender and then one day, he sexually abuses a student, your school will be held liable and you will be charged with negligent hiring lawsuits. The cost for the damages you have to pay for will be a lot more expensive than the cost of paying for a background check.
Moreover, more parents will feel safer enrolling their children in your school if they know that you do background checks on your teachers. They will have some peace of mind knowing that their kids are in safe hands. Even you will be more appeased knowing that you did not hire any criminals or drug users to teach in your school who can damage the name and reputation of your educational institution.
Background checks will also help you stay from people who do resume falsifications. It would be very frustrating to hire someone whom you thought was a competent teacher because he graduated from a top university and have impressive work experience, only to get complaints from parents that this teacher does not know a thing about what he is teaching.
Conducting background checks can be costly and time consuming. But when it comes to safety of children, you just can never be too careful.
