Quinsigamond Community College did not ensure that all students enrolled in its early childhood education courses had undergone required background checks.

Audit notes that allowing these students to enroll in these courses without first performing background checks could pose a risk to children at the facilities involved in the ECE program.

Overview

Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) could not substantiate that all students in early childhood education (ECE) courses had had required background checks. During our audit period, QCC had 259 students enrolled in ECE courses. We could not verify that the QCC campus police had performed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks for 44 of the 259 students. 

Furthermore, there were 61 students who participated in ECE Program capstone courses that required students to have fingerprint-based checks. QCC did not ensure that 17 of them had fingerprint-based checks before they began participating in the courses.

Without required background checks for students enrolled in ECE courses, there may be a risk to children in the care of facilities involved with the ECE Program.

Authoritative Guidance

QCC’s ECE Program website states that CORI/SORI checks are required of all students taking ECE classes. In addition, according to QCC’s online student handbook,

In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.

In addition, Section 14 of Title 606 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations requires CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based checks for individuals affiliated with programs or facilities under the oversight of the state Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), such as the Children’s School at QCC.

Reasons for Noncompliance

QCC does not have a process to track whether students in ECE courses have the required background checks before participating in the courses.

Recommendation

QCC should develop a documented process to ensure that all students in ECE courses have had the required background checks.

Auditee’s Response

The college agrees with Finding 1, 44 ECE students did not have the required CORI/SORI checks on file and 17 capstone course students did not have required fingerprint checks on file.

Subsequent to the audit, and after careful consideration of Section 14 of Title 606 of the code of Massachusetts Regulations, the college has decided to modify their requirements for [background record checks, or BRCs]. BRCs will only be required when there is an ECE student observation or an ECE student supervised practicum that takes place at QCC’s [Children’s] School. The Director of the [Children’s] School or his/her designee will validate that all required BRCs are completed and on file. If a student has not completed the required BRC, they will not be allowed to enter the QCC [Children’s] School classrooms.

The 17 ECE capstone course students that did not have fingerprints checks on file were all participants in the “Fieldwork with Young Children I” course. Beginning in the Spring 2020 semester, all students registering for this course will not be able to self-register or register with an advisor. These students will be directed to the Coordinator of Early Childhood Education or his/her designee, who will assist these students with completing the required BRC process. This process has been proven effective with other capstone courses.

Auditor’s Reply

It appears that QCC is taking measures to address this finding by ensuring that all students who perform observation and practicum work at the Children’s School receive background checks and that the results are recorded and available for verification.

Date published:	March 26, 2020