APIE Background Check Policies 2010-2011
Who needs a background check?
According to Austin ISD, all volunteers who participate on a school campus must submit to a criminal
history background check. Background Checks are valid for 3 years. This includes mentors, partners,
tutors and other volunteers.
There are three exceptions:
 Parents and grandparents who are only volunteering in their grand/child’s classroom.

Volunteers who are only participating in one-time events.

Visitors that will be constantly supervised by an Austin ISD employee.
How do volunteers submit to a background check?
Austin Partners in Education offers criminal history background checks at no charge for volunteers
who participate in approved programs on an Austin ISD campus. Approval guidelines have been
reviewed by the Austin ISD General Counsel.
Volunteers should:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Go to www.austinpartners.org/volunteer.
On the left color bar, choose their preferred school and click “Search”.
Click on the Name of the appropriate volunteer opportunity.
Input their e-mail address. Volunteers must submit a unique e-mail address to receive notice of
the background check results.
NOTE: If a volunteer does not have an active e-mail address, they should input
name.birthdate@noemail.com and a valid phone number.
Example: christin.122884@noemail.com
a. If a volunteer’s e-mail address is already in the APIE system, they will be immediately
signed up for the volunteer opportunity.
b. If a volunteer’s e-mail address is not in the APIE system, they should see a registration
page and complete all required fields.
How long do background checks take?
Volunteers with no criminal history should receive an approval notice by e-mail within 2 business
days. The Volunteer Contact can select to be copied on these approval e-mails.
If a volunteer has a criminal history, APIE will contact the volunteer directly by e-mail to request
further information. If a volunteer does not respond within 1 week, APIE will contact the volunteer by
phone. If a volunteer does not respond within 2 weeks or does not provide accurate contact
information, he/she will be denied and a notice will be sent to the school.
What is AISD’s role in background checks?
Before allowing a volunteer to meet with students, your school MUST confirm that the legal name
and birth date on the volunteer’s driver’s license, passport or other government-issued picture ID
matches the information provided for the background check.
Because APIE uses an online background check system, it is essential that additional steps are taken
to ensure the accuracy of the information used for the check. In situations where a picture ID was
instrumental in determining that a background check result was attributable to the applicant, your
school must verify that the ID used matches the ID presented in person.
APIE accepts no responsibility for misrepresentation or inaccurate information submitted during
registration. It is the responsibility of the school to verify this information before allowing volunteers
into your program.
What if information on an ID is different from information used for a
background check?
If the information is inconsistent, please notify APIE so that a new background check can be
processed. Requests for background check updates should be sent via email to Tam Vu at
tvu@austinpartners.org. Phone requests will not be accepted, and background check re-processing
will take 2 business days to 2 weeks.
Please discuss any parent volunteers with your campus Volunteer Contact.
If you have any questions regarding background check policies or volunteer registrations, please
contact Lindsey McBride, Campus and Community Engagement Manager at
lmcbride@austinpartners.org or (512) 637-0983.
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APPENDIX
Austin Partners in Education screens volunteers using the following
criminal history background databases:
I. 20 State Criminal Conviction Database
Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Minnesota
Mississippi
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
II. Sex Offender Records from all 50 states & the District of Columbia
III. 39 Department of Correction Databases
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Leon County
Lincoln County
Los Angeles County
Major County
Maricopa County
Marshall County
Mayes County
McClain County
McCurtain County
McIntosh County
Miami-Dade County
Montgomery County
Murray County
Muskogee County
Noble County
Nowata County
Okfuskee County
Okmulgee County
Orange County
Orange County (2)
Osage County
Osceola County
Ottawa County
Palm Beach County
Pawnee County
Pima County
Pinellas County
Pittsburg County
Pontotoc County
Pottawatomie County
Potter County
Riverside County
Sacramento County
San Bernardino County
Santa Barbara County
Santa Clara County
Santa Cruz County
Sedgwick County
Seminole County
Sequoyah County
Stephens County
Suwannee County
IV: Additional 92 County Criminal Records Databases
Atoka County
Beaver County
Beckham County
Bexar County
Blaine County
Brevard County
Broward County
Bryan County
Caddo County
Carter County
Chambers County
Charlotte County
Cherokee County
Collin County
Cook County Felony
Cotton County
Craig County
Creek County
Custer County
Dallas County
Delaware County
Denton County
Duval County
El Paso County
Fairfax County
Fort Bend County
Garvin County
Grant County
Greene County
Gregg County
Harris County Felony
Haskell County
Hillsborough County
Hinds County
Hughes County
Jefferson County
Kay County
Kingfisher County
LA Bossier Parish
LA Caddo Parish
Latimer County
Le Flore County
3
Texas County
Travis County
Victoria County
Wagoner County
Washington County
Washita County
Williamson County
Woods County
Criminal Background Check Guidelines
(Based on Austin ISD Standards)
All volunteers are required to submit to a criminal history background check before participating at an
Austin ISD school. Parents and grandparents who are only volunteering in their student’s classroom and
volunteers who are only participating in one-time events are not required to submit to a check.
Background checks will be renewed every 3 years for returning volunteers, unless otherwise requested.
Applicants may be denied if they meet any of the following criteria:
 Prior felony conviction or deferred adjudication of a felony offense.
 Prior conviction or deferred adjudication of a misdemeanor offense within the last 5 years
involving moral turpitude (acts that are generally considered morally or ethically wrong)
including but not limited to crimes that involve dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation,
deliberate violence, or offenses involving drugs or alcohol
 Felony or misdemeanor charges that are pending against the applicant involving offenses of
moral turpitude or offenses involving drugs or alcohol
 Listing on Sexual Offenders Database
Factors that may be considered when circumstances require discretionary judgment:
Applicants may be asked to provide proof of identity by a copy of his/her driver’s license, contact
information for 2 references and additional information regarding the offense before a judgment is
made. Failure to respond within 2 weeks will result in an applicant being denied.

Possibility of incorrect identity
 Applicant may provide evidence to support his/her identity status
 Applicants may request a copy of the record.

Nature of the offense
 Severity and number of offenses
 Age of applicant at time of offense
 Pattern of conduct established by multiple offenses that may be detrimental to children

Length of time since last arrest
 A clear record of 10 years or more may indicate good conduct.
 A single charge more than 10 years ago that could affect a mentoring relationship may
result in an applicant’s referral to a supervised program.

Effect of offense on mentor relationship
 A mentoring position may be denied if the applicant has committed an offense that may
be detrimental to a one-on-one relationship but may be referred to a supervised or
group program pending consideration of above factors.

General guidelines
 Dismissed charges may be disregarded.
 A period of probation completed with no infractions may be disregarded depending on
the severity of offense and consideration of above factors.
 Deferred adjudication or plea of no contest resulting in a probation term may be treated
as a conviction and the decision may be made on the above factors.