A new Pennsylvania state law will be going into effect on Dec. 31, 2014. This law enforces a strict background policy on any school volunteer, and forces employees and contractors who will have any contact with children to update their clearances every 36 months. In addition, dentists, funeral directors, and other private sector workers will also be obliged to undergo the same checks. Public emphasis has been on these types of legislative acts in Pennsylvania ever since the Jerry Sandusky (Penn State University) incident.
Will requiring a background check potentially limit parental involvement in the Pennsylvania school system? Will parents be afraid to volunteer for fear of having an old criminal record come to light?
Only time will tell how this legislation affects the school system, but parents of Pennsylvania children can start to feel a little more safe starting in 2015.