Clearance Forms and Information

Pennsylvania State Criminal Background Check

All applicants must possess a Pennsylvania State Criminal Background Check.  The criminal background check can be obtained by sending in a completed background check application to the Pennsylvania State Police, Central Repository - 164, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758 with a $10.00 money order or certified check (PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH OR PERSONAL CHECKS).  Paper applications can be obtained at Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Human Resources Office, 740 Unionville Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348.  Applicants will also be able to apply on-line at https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp.

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

All applicants must possess a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance.  The clearance can be obtained by sending a completed child abuse application to the Childline and Abuse Registry, Department of Public Welfare, P.O. Box 8170, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8170 with a $10.00 money order (PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH OR PERSONAL CHECKS).  Paper applications can be obtained at Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Human Resources Office, 740 Unionville Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348, or by printing the following: click here.

Federal Criminal History Record Check

Under Act 114 of 2006, effective April 1, 2007, all student teachers (participating in classroom teaching, internships, clinical or field experience) and prospective employees (including but not limited to administrators, teachers, substitutes, janitors, cafeteria workers, and office employees) of public and private schools, Intermediate Units and area vocational-technical schools, including independent contractors and their employees and bus drivers, who have direct contact with children, must provide to their employer a copy of a Federal Criminal Record Check that cannot be more than one year old. 

To obtain a Federal Criminal History Record Check each prospective employee must do the following:

REGISTRATION: The applicant must register first before going to a location to be fingerprinted.  The applicant is encouraged to register online at http://www.pa.cogentid.com, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  For those without internet access, telephone registration is available at 1-888-439-2486 Monday thru Friday, 8AM to 6PM EST.  During the registration process, data for the applicant such as name, address, and social security number is collected.

FEES: At the time of online registration, an applicant will pay a fee of $40 for the Record Check using a credit card or debit card.  For those who do not have the ability to pay by credit or debit card, money orders or cashiers checks payable to Cogent Systems will be accepted at fingerprint locations No cash transactions or personal checks will be accepted at fingerprint locations.

FINGERPRINTING PROCESS: After completing the registration process, the applicant needs to select a location for fingerprinting.  A map of locations, along with the days and hours of operation for each, can be found online at http://www.pa.cogentid.com.  Upon arrival at the selected fingerprint location, the applicant needs to present a valid state or federal identification, along with the confirmation number from the registration process.  Applicants will not be processed if they have not registered and/or are unable to produce valid photo identification