Orange County Public Schools

Fingerprints are used to check the criminal history records of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

EMPLOYEES

All employees must undergo a state and national criminal history background check upon hire. Fingerprints are retained for the duration of employment and every five years are re-submitted for another national criminal history check.

Criminal History Disqualification

Orange County Public Schools publishes hiring guidelines at OCPS Main Site. A link to the current guidelines can be found here: Hiring Statement and Privacy Rights.

The link above is not intended to be a complete list of disqualifying criminal offenses. Please refer to Florida Statute 1012.315 for information related to disqualification from employment.

Criminal History Disclosure and Clarification

All criminal history must be disclosed for employment consideration with a Florida public school district; including sealed or expunged records. Failure to disclose criminal history upon employment with Orange County Public Schools will lead to termination or the revocation of an offer of employment.

At Orange County Public Schools, criminal history is clarified by the submission of the following required documents for every charge in one’s background: An arrest affidavit; a final court disposition and a personal statement.

Anyone instructed to clarify criminal history is afforded seven days from notification to comply by submitting specified materials. Failure to respond within the allotted time will result in a determination of ineligibility. Where it can, the district will endeavor to be flexible, but cannot guarantee a position will remain open. When a position must be filled to meet mandates and clarification occurs after the fact, the applicant is welcome and invited to apply for other positions that align with their skills.

INTERNS

Please see the link, with specific answers to internship questions, on the Background Screenings home page.

VENDORS

Employees of companies contracted with Orange County Public Schools who are expected to have contact with students, or be on a campus when students are present are required to fingerprint. Please refer to Florida Statutes 1012.465 and 1012.467 for information about vendor background checks. Link to Florida Statutes

For more information about OCPS vendor fingerprinting requirements click here: Jessica Lunsford Act

Vendor Badges

District vendors are required to wear a badge. Badges are issued after criminal history has been evaluated and a clear recommendation is made. Get more information about vendor fingerprinting and registration - Jessica Lunsford Act

To qualify for an OCPS vendor badge fingerprints must be captured

Cost is $82.50 and is paid by Visa/MasterCard/ Amex / Discover. Only registered vendors are permitted to fingerprint. Please refer to your contract for vendor fingerprint information and your vendor ID number.

Fingerprinting without authorization from OCPS may result in deletion of fingerprints.

Short cut link- all users must link to FieldPrint:

Note: Determine what type of vendor you are.
1. Contact vendor - Individuals who have direct contact with students, could be on school grounds when students are present, or have control of school funds.
2. Non-contact vendor - Individuals whose performance of a contract with the school or school board is not anticipated to result in direct contact with students, and for whom any unanticipated contact would be infrequent and incidental.

INTERNS

Certain timelines exist by semester for when you must comply. Be sure to get your fingerprints taken at the right time. Get information about the OCPS Intern program.

Interns Information

Fingerprinting without OCPS authorization may result in the deletion of fingerprints, with no provision for refunds.

Appointments:

All users must click here for an appointment.

Payment: $48.50 Visa/MC/Amex/Discover

Retention:

Intern fingerprints are retained for one year, but may be deleted sooner, if the intern cancels program participation or drops class assignment.

Interns fingerprinting for Junior Achievement programs, prior to directly participating in an OCPS internship, may retain fingerprints. Any semester gaps between participating in Junior Achievement and OCPS internship assignment, will result in the deletion of fingerprints.

DISTRICT and CHARTER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

State law requires public school district employees to have current fingerprints retained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE). Every five years, employees must re-fingerprint for an FBI national criminal history background check.

Fingerprints are retained for up to five years, or the length of employment, whichever is longer.

OCPS pays the fees for retention of fingerprints, for benefited instructional and classified district employees. Others are invoiced.

Interns

Fingerprints are retained for the duration of the student teaching internship and are deleted, when the student's internship ends or is interrupted.

Fingerprint Deletion

Upon termination of employment, conclusion of a student internship, or an employee's break in service, retained fingerprints will be deleted. It is important to note that school districts are invoiced by the FDLE for the retention of fingerprints, above and beyond the initial fee an individual pays to fingerprint. Therefore, the district will delete prints, as close to the termination date, as possible.

Pursuant to Florida law, charter school employees must be fingerprinted upon employment and again, every five years.

Charter School New Hires

Fingerprinting without authorization from OCPS may result in the deletion of fingerprints, with no provision for refunds.

Appointments:

All users must make an appointment here.

Payment: $48.50 Visa/MC/Amex/Discover