Early Childhood Education Background Check Policy

A national criminal background check is required for every Early Childhood Education student at Morgan Community College. In order to participate in the ECE program, in lecture or practicum based courses, you will be required to complete a criminal background check.  Each student is responsible for completing a criminal background and fingerprint check at http//cccs.castlebranch.com/ and is responsible for the cost of them. The background and fingerprint checks are a requirement of MCC; therefore, any previous background and fingerprint checks completed for employment will not suffice. This policy is implemented and monitored by the MCC Human Resources Department.

Students enrolling in any ECE course must pass the criminal background and fingerprint checks before they are allowed to start observation or practicum hours with children. Contact Human Resources if you are enrolling in an ECE online course for information on how to complete the background check process.

The background check and the fingerprint check is valid from the date of clearance as long as the student is continuously enrolled at MCC or in a CCCS approved program with no more than one semester lapse in enrollment. The Vice President of Instruction or the Dean of Instruction can request additional background checks at any time. The student will be responsible for the additional cost. In some cases, additional background checks may be required by a practicum site.

Should any required record indicate that a student is unable to work with children, he or she will not be eligible to complete courses requiring interaction with children. In the even that a student's background check prevents one from working with children or be hired at an educational facility including child care centers, preschools, Head Start family child care homes, elementary schools, the Dean of Instruction or Student Services will work with the student to individualize an alternative education plan and career path.

NOTE: Do NOT delay - Fingerprint check processing can take up to 6 months for processing. Contact MCC Human Resources Department for additional assistance or questions.