FWISD PLANS FOR STATE FINGERPRINTING REQUIREMENTS 

Fort Worth, Texas – Texas law requires certified educational employees to be fingerprinted and their information entered into a State database. All Fort Worth ISD employees who are certified by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)/Texas Education Agency (TEA) and have not complied will be subject to this requirement. 

“Anyone who has been certified since January 1, 2008 will have already complied with these requirements,” said Michael Menchaca, Director of FWISD’s Office of Professional Standards. “It is really important for certified employees to comply not only for the safety of children but also because the consequences of non-compliance could affect careers.” 

Beginning in early September, the fingerprinting vendor, L1, will send six mobile fingerprinting units to the FWISD.  Using a District supplied list of certified employees TEA will determine who must submit to fingerprinting. The District estimates that more than 8,000 employees could be eligible for this program. The mobile units will be scheduled for each District campus so as to minimize classroom disruptions. 

A certified employee includes ANY employee of the District who holds an active or inactive certificate or an active permit issued by SBEC regardless of the role in which they currently serve. 

Certified employees who were employed full time during the 2006-2007 school year will have their fingerprint fees paid for by the State. Certified employees not meeting this criterion must pay $52.20. A complete explanation of payment options is being distributed to each employee.  

The FWISD has conducted fingerprinting and background checks on all employees for over ten years. The District will continue to perform such security measures on all non-certified employees. 

>> Find out more and download the mobile unit schedule for your school.

-FWISD-