Every teacher in the country would need to undergo a criminal background check before they could be hired, under provisions in federal legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
The legislation is intended to stop teachers who’ve committed violent or sexual acts against children from finding their way into other classrooms. In addition to the checks at hiring, districts would need to “periodically” re-check their teachers. Those districts could, but are not required, to share the results of those checks with other districts where the teacher is looking to work.
“This is increased due diligence, it is increased vigilance. It is a way for parents to have another confirmation that their children are going to be safe within the walls of that school, once they drop their children off at that school,” Blackburn said.
Read the full story from our news partner, The Tennessean, here.