AELS Background Check

 

ATU has a new AELS video for all students and teachers that explains the Background Check process!

It is great to review this video as many times as needed to help avoid confusion from the start. Please watch it before you start completing the online forms. We also have a new AELS CHECKLIST to make sure you have completed all of the steps before your appointment. The links to forms and specific information for fields is included in the Step-by-Step Instructions below. Click the following link to watch! 

AELS Video

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and Arkansas Tech University require background checks.

Act 455 of 2013 established that all educators must clear FBI and Arkansas State Police background checks and submit a release of information to the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry.   Background and Child Maltreatment Registry checks must be less than one (1) year old when a license is issued or renewed.

Prior to any field experience, undergraduate and MAT candidates must have an approved background check. 

When do I need to get an AELS Background check?

• After you register for the Intro class (ELED 2003, MLED 2003, or SEED 2003), and before submitting your Field Placement application, you must have an approved AELS background check.
• If you leave school and return at a later date to resume education classes, you must have an up-to-date AELS background check approval.
• When you are ready to apply for your teaching license, you must have an AELS Background Check with an approval date less than a year old. 

WHAT information does AELS receive to approve a  Background check?

• An electronic set of fingerprints is submitted to the Arkansas Sate Police and FBI for approval.
• Click here for a list of Disqualifying Criminal Offenses that would prevent an approval from AELS.
• A Child Maltreatment Registry Check Form is submitted to the state Department of Human services, and a finding of clear is required for your approval.

How much does an AELS Background Check Cost?

• $40 for your background check, which includes your fingerprinting; and
• $11 for your Child Maltreatment Registry Check request ($10.00 fee + $1.00 electronic processing fee).

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For information on how to complete your background check, please follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the next drop-down section.

Click here to complete the Online Background Check Consent Form.

**Please note: Do not use the “Auto fill” option because it is causing a lot of issues and will delay the approval.

1. SELECT Reason: Teacher (Licensure, Renewal) for students planning to get their full (K-12) teaching license; *Early Childhood Education majors will select "AR ADE Office of Early Childhood" (ECE). Please make sure you have chosen the correct reason for your background check. We are unable to change anything on your Consent Form once you have paid for it, so if you need to make another selection, you will have to pay for it again.
2. CLICK Continue.
3. Employer: IHE with EPP: Arkansas Tech University.
4. Fill out all applicant information. The exact information you need to enter is listed below.
5. You must print the form now or save it as a PDF.  There is no other way to obtain the form.
6. You must bring your paper copy of your Consent form to your fingerprinting appointment.

Continue below for payment.

 

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Click here to complete the Background Check Payment.

You will need to enter the following information to complete the Background Check form:

1. Choose a School District/Location: Arkansas Tech University.
2. Verification Code:  8800004.
3. Reason Fingerprinted: EDC Teacher (Licensure, Renewal) or Early Childhood Education majors will select "AR ADE Office of Early Childhood" (ECE). If you are uncertain about the options, please call our office at (479) 964-0583, ext. 2203.
4. PRINT NOW or save your receipt and bring it to your fingerprinting appointment. On that receipt is a unique Search ID/Transaction Number that we must have to do your fingerprints. PLEASE NOTE: You are not finished until you complete the Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check form AND have PAID for it.
5. Instructions are below.

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Submitting an Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Background Check Request

There are three stages involved with receiving results for an Arkansas (AR) Child Maltreatment Central Registry Background Check:

1. AR Child Maltreatment Central Registry Request Form Generator
2. AR Child Maltreatment Central Registry Request Form Upload
3. Online Payment

Details of each stage are outlined below. Please read the details of all stages before accessing the link below to generate your AR Child Maltreatment Central Registry Request Form.

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Stage 1: Arkansas (AR) Child Maltreatment Central Registry Form Generator Process

1. After reading through all three stages and their associated steps below, access the Central Registry Request Form Generator to generate your request form.
2. Once you are on the AR Child Maltreatment Central Registry Request Form webpage, complete each required field (required fields denoted by an asterisk), as shown below. 

EDUCATION INFORMATION:

SELECT: You are teacher, a pre-service teacher, work for, or attempting to work for a school in Arkansas. *If this option is not what you need to select, please call our office at (479) 964-0583, ext. 2203, for help.

Applicant type: Licensed Teacher. Your other option is for a Non-licensed Teacher, such as staff employees.

School District: This should auto-fill with Arkansas Department of Education.

Email Address: This should auto-fill with the DESE email:  dese.dcfsresults@ade.arkansas.gov

School District Contact Name: Clara Toney (Please do not enter a Tech employee's name!)

District phone number: LEAVE BLANK

District Fax: LEAVE BLANK

LEA Number: LEAVE BLANK

SCHOOL MAILING ADDRESS: LEAVE BLANK

APPLICANT INFORMATION: Enter your own information accurately (this includes all of your addresses for the past five (5) years).

Once all required fields are completed, click the ‘Submit Form’ button.

The DHS Application Support Team at Arkansas Department of Human Services will email your document to you for your review and e-signature.

Download: Once you have e-signed the request form, click Submit.  The DHS Application Support Team at Arkansas Department of Human Services will send the e-signed form back to you. Download the form to your electronic device.

Continue to STAGE 2 below.

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Stage 2: Arkansas (AR) Child Maltreatment Central Registry Form Upload Process

Once you have downloaded the request form, access the Central Registry Form Uploader to send your file to the Central Registry Team using the links below:

1. Upload your request here.
2. Click ‘Browse’ under ‘Signed Request File’ to search your computer and upload the signed copy of the form.  The signed form should consist of a minimum of three (3) pages and all pages must be uploaded.
3. Click ‘Submit and Pay.’
4. You will then be automatically redirected to the payment webpage (Ark Gov Pay). Follow the Stage 3 instructions below to pay. PLEASE NOTE: You are not finished until you complete the Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check form and have PAID for it. 

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Stage 3: Online Payment

1. Select a Payment Type.
2. Complete the customer information and payment information sections to pay the central registry check fee for $10.00 (Child Maltreatment Request + a $1.00 online processing fee).
3. Click ‘Submit Payment.’
4. You will receive a confirmation email verifying submission of your request and completed payment. Registry check results are emailed via encrypted email to the entity identified in the ‘Results Should Be Released To’ section of the form submission request. That will always be Clara Toney until further notice!

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FAQ's

Who can request an Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry status (background) check?

• Certain individuals identified under Arkansas Statute may request and receive information on an individual’s Registry status (notarized authorization form required). 
• The individual whose status is being requested.
• Child protective entities in other states for the purpose of placing a child.
• Employers
• Volunteer agencies
• Licensing agencies

Please contact the DCFS Registry Unit with any questions. Their contact information is below.

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What happens if my initial online request is rejected?

If your request is rejected for any reason, you will receive an email advising of the rejection and identifying how to correct it. To resubmit rejected forms, follow the steps listed above and resubmit without additional payment. Be sure to choose “Yes” under the drop-down box “Is this a resubmission?” You will also need to include your original request number which can be located in the initial confirmation email.

DCFS Contact information

TDD: (501) 682-1442

P.O. Box 1437, Slot S560
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437

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Complete the Fingerprinting Process

ATU has a LiveScan system for background checks located in Crabaugh 308. Schedule your appointment by clicking HERE. We can submit your fingerprints directly to the Arkansas State Police and FBI.

For a list of other approved LiveScan locations, click HERE.

Note: You MUST bring a copy of your consent form, your payment receipt for your background check, and a valid ID to complete the fingerprinting process. If you do not have access to a printer, please email these documents to Mrs. Kim Tate at ktate4@atu.edu.

Check Employability - Please allow up to 2-4 weeks for the employability status to be determined before contacting the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

To verify that your background check has cleared, use the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS) here.
To access your record, enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number and your last name. Leave Case I.D. blank! Click the Search button. Once your name pulls up, click SELECT to the left of your name and look for the Employability Check section. If the status says APPROVED, then your background check has cleared.

If its status still shows PENDING after 4 weeks have passed, you are missing some information -- 90% of the time teachers and other school employees do not submit the Child Maltreatment Registry Check portion of the background check, or if it was submitted, it was not paid for!  You will need to confirm that is the actual problem, so please contact Clara Toney at the Arkansas Department of Education at clara.toney@ade.arkansas.gov or (501) 682-4342.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Kim Tate in the Teacher Licensure Department at ktate4@atu.edu.

You must bring the following items to your fingerprinting appointment: 

Bring to your appointment:

• Printed copy of your Background Check Consent form (or the .pdf version on your phone/computer)..
• Printed receipt of your Background Check Payment of $40.00. This is very important! This receipt has a Search ID/ Transaction Number on it that ATU must use to pull up your record in the AELS system before we can fingerprint you!
• Child Maltreatment Registry Check receipt for $11.00 (or at least be prepared to show this receipt as proof of submission).
• Valid Government Issued I.D. (Driver's License of State ID Card)

If you do not have the items listed above, please go through the step-by-step instructions list above and make sure you have completed steps 1 and 2 before coming to your appointment.

Click Here to Schedule an Appointment

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