Montgomery County Public Schools
Outdoor Environmental Education Programs
Overnight Chaperone Background Check Requirements Overview
Background
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all
students every day. If our children do not feel safe, they are far less likely to learn, thrive, and succeed.
On June 29, 2015, the Board of Education approved changes to Policy JHC, Child Abuse and Neglect,
which guides MCPS procedures and protocols related to recognizing, reporting, and preventing
suspected child abuse and neglect of students. The revised policy as well as aligned revisions to MCPS
Regulation JHC-RA, outline strategies for implementing guidelines, protocols, and training which
impact employees, outside contractors, volunteers, parents, and the greater community.
Fingerprinting Background Check Requirements
MCPS requires all chaperones for the Outdoor Environmental Education Program to disclose, under
penalty of perjury, any prior convictions or pending criminal charges and acknowledge that the
chaperone may be subject to a background check. Effective January 1, 2016, MCPS will require all
OEEP overnight chaperones to complete a mandatory criminal background check, including
fingerprinting.
The criminal background check fee of $36.00 will be at the expense of MCPS during the
2015–2016 school year. Any OEEP overnight chaperone who is a current MCPS employee (hired after
1988), serves in a law enforcement capacity (local, state, or federal level), or is an OEEP high school
student assistant is not required to complete fingerprinting and background checks.
For completing the fingerprinting requirement, chaperones may use MCPS Office of Human Resources
and Development (OHRD) or American Identity Solutions, Inc. (AIS). During the 2015–2016 school
year, MCPS will pay the full cost of the fingerprinting fee if it is completed at the MCPS OHRD. OEEP
overnight chaperones who utilize AIS will be provided an American Identity Solutions Invoice and
have responsibility for paying the additional $20.00 at the time of appointment. Cash, credit card, or
money order will be accepted for payment. Personal checks will not be accepted.
Individuals must provide written consent for MCPS to receive the results of the background check.
OHRD will maintain confidential copies of all records. Chaperones may not serve in OEEP until the
results have been approved by OHRD.
In reviewing an OEEP overnight chaperone’s criminal background check, OHRD will apply the same
case-by-case analysis that is utilized for MCPS staff, as well as employees of MCPS contractors who
work on school premises with direct, unsupervised, and controlled access to children. Under Maryland
law, MCPS may not employ any individual who has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo
contendere to, a crime involving:
a) A sexual offense in the third or fourth degree under § 3–307 or § 3–308 of the Criminal Law
Article of the Maryland Code or an offense under the laws of another state that would constitute
an offense under § 3–307 or § 3–308 of the Criminal Law Article if committed in Maryland;
b) Child sexual abuse under § 3-602 of the Criminal Law Article, or an offense under the laws of
another state that would constitute child sexual abuse under § 3-602 of the Criminal Law
Article if committed in Maryland; or
c) A crime of violence as defined in § 14–101 of the Criminal Law Article, or an offense under
the laws of another state that would be a violation of § 14–101 of the Criminal Law Article if
committed in Maryland, including: (1) abduction; (2) arson in the first degree; (3) kidnapping;
(4) manslaughter, except involuntary manslaughter; (5) mayhem; (6) maiming; (7) murder; (8)
rape; (9) robbery; (10) carjacking; (11) armed carjacking; (12) sexual offense in the first
degree; (13) sexual offense in the second degree; (14) use of a handgun in the commission of
a felony or other crime of violence; (15) child abuse in the first degree; (16) sexual abuse of a
minor; (17) an attempt to commit any of the crimes described in items (1) through (16) of this
list; (18) continuing course of conduct with a child under § 3-315 of the Criminal Law Article;
(19) assault in the first degree; (20) assault with intent to murder; (21) assault with intent to
rape; (22) assault with intent to rob; (23) assault with intent to commit a sexual offense in the
first degree; and (24) assault with intent to commit a sexual offense in the second degree.
OHRD must take appropriate steps to promptly follow up with the OEEP overnight chaperones
regarding information identified in the criminal background check that is related to sexual offenses,
child sexual abuse offenses, and crimes of violence described above, as well as any information
regarding offenses involving distribution of drugs or other controlled substances, or any other criminal
information identified by OHRD as warranting further explanation if it may significantly affect the
safety and security of MCPS students. OHRD will not share any details regarding a potential
volunteer’s criminal background check with school-based staff.
If, after following up, OHRD concludes that the individual is qualified to serve as an OEEP overnight
chaperone, OHRD will document the justification in a confidential file and notify the principal that the
individual is authorized for the volunteer assignment. OEEP overnight chaperones will also be required
to complete training on recognizing, reporting, and preventing child abuse and neglect.
Recognizing, Reporting, and Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect Training Requirement
OEEP overnight chaperones can complete the training requirement in one of the following ways:
 Attend a school-based training for middle school OEEP volunteers and chaperones. The school
will notify parents/guardians regarding the training dates.
 Attend a systemwide face-to-face training opportunities held in various locations in Montgomery
County. Training registration is available on the Office of Community Engagement and
Partnerships website at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/community-engagement/.
 Complete the online training module that will be available in February 2016 on the Office of
Community
Engagement
and
Partnerships
website
at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/community-engagement/. The online volunteer training
will be translated into multiple languages.
Outdoor Environmental Education Programs Overnight Chaperone
Fingerprinting/Criminal Background Check Locations
Montgomery County Public Schools
Fingerprinting sessions are by appointment only
Bring a Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, or Green Card)
Contact: Mr. Gregory P. Jones, personnel assistant
Office of Human Resources and Development
301-279-3276
Fingerprinting Location
Office of Human Resources and Development
45 West Gude Drive, Lobby, Rockville, Maryland 20850
Available Hours – November 30, 2015 – April 29, 2016
Weekdays:
Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Se Habla Español
Extended Weekday:
First Tuesday of each month, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Weekend:
Third Saturday of each month, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
*No Fee
There is no fee for OEEP overnight chaperones who utilize MCPS for fingerprinting.
American Identity Solutions
Fingerprinting sessions are by appointment only
Bring a Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, or Green Card) and a completed American Identity Solutions Invoice
Fingerprinting Locations and Available Hours
6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 110
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Telephone: 301-571-9479
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Se Habla Español
12501 Prosperity Drive, Suite 200
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
Telephone: 240-670-7952
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
7361 Calhoun Place
Rockville, Maryland 20855
Telephone: 301-296-4499
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Se Habla Español
*Fee
OEEP overnight chaperones who utilize AIS must submit the American Identity Solutions Invoice and have
responsibility for paying a fee of $20.00 at the time of the appointment. Cash, credit card, or money order will be
accepted for payment. Personal checks will not be accepted.