Background & Clearance Checks For Providence Public Schools

When engaging with Providence Public Schools (PPSD) and working with minors, there are specific requirements you must complete before starting your placement. 

Swearer-affiliated students can complete these processes at Engagement Preparation Days! All other students can use the information below to complete the process on their own.
 

Please follow the instructions below to complete these requirements for engaging with PPSD:

Type of Clearance Considerations Instructions

RI State Background Check Investigation

Any student over 18 engaging with minors or vulnerable populations must have a state background check (BCI). Students under 18, and/or do not have a government ID cannot receive the RI state background check.

The best way to obtain a RI State Background Check is to visit the Attorney General's Office located at 4 Howard Avenue (in the Pastore Complex), Cranston, RI 02920. 

Please be sure to bring your government-issued ID (license, state ID, passport, etc.). 

The AG office will be able to conduct your RI State BCI for  ~$5.00 (processing fees bring it up to around $5.60) which can be paid by debit/credit card. They do not accept cash. 

Mandated Reporter Training & Acknowledgment

All students engaging with minors must complete the training. PPSD requires volunteers engaging with minors to sign a form that acknowledges their role under this state law.

Print, sign, scan/take a picture of and email the Mandated Reporter Acknowledgment form located below to [email protected] or your site supervisor/site leader.

Sign up for a student account on TopHat by using your Brown SSO credentials and then complete the virtual Mandated Reporter training by scrolling through the PPT slides and answering questions.

PPSD Confidentiality Agreement 

The agreement form is required of students engaging with PPSD. Print, sign, scan/take a picture of and email the PPSD Confidentiality Agreement form located below to [email protected] or your site supervisor/site leader.

DCYF (Department of Children, Youth & Families) Clearance Check

Required by PPSD for all school volunteering (tutoring, etc.)

You can complete and pay for your DCYF Clearance request online here. 

If you are a Swearer-affiliated student,  please use the following information:

Facility Name: Swearer Center/Brown University

Mailing Address: 2 Stimson Ave, Providence, RI 02912

Email Address: [email protected]

Phone Number: 401-863-5457

Your clearance will be sent directly to the Swearer Center Operations Team. If you require a copy of your clearance, please email [email protected] at least two business days after the completion of the online process.

RI State Background Check

What is the RI State Background Check? What does it look for?

  1. The RI State background check is a criminal history check performed using a person’s name and date of birth.

  2. The scope of the check is only in the state of Rhode Island. It will not indicate if a person has an out-of-state criminal offense.

  • Jurisdiction where record is recorded
  • Case number
  • Defendant
  • Charge
  • Filing date
  • Degree of offense (ex. misdemeanor)
  • Disposition and date
  • Sentence

Rhode Island State Background Checks are required for students who will engage with minors (under the age of 18) and/or vulnerable populations through organizations that require this type of check. 

Mandated Reporter Training

What is a Mandated Reporter? What do volunteers look for?

All persons in Rhode Island are required by law (RIGL §40-11-3) to report known or suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect to the Department of Children, Youth and Families within 24 hours of becoming aware of such abuse/neglect.

  • Physical Abuse
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Physical Endangerment
  • Improper ethical guidance
  • Lack of supervision
  • Medical abuse
  • Deprivation of basic needs
  • Educational neglect
  • Emotional conflict
  • Psychological neglect

Any individual engaging with minors under the age of 18 is required to complete a virtual Mandated Reporter training on TopHat, the Swearer Center's e-learning platform.

  • The Swearer Center maintains a list of students who have completed this virtual training for compliance tracking purposes.
  • While we invite students to review the training each year, it only needs to be completed once during a student's tenure at Brown.

PPSD-Specific Confidentiality Forms

All students who plan to engage with the Providence Public School District (PPSD) must fill out and sign PPSDs. The agreement dictates that volunteers will protect confidential student and employee information protected by (but not limited to) FERPA and HIPAA.

You will complete these during your visit to one of the Engagement Preparation Days. If you are not able to attend those days, then please send the signed version of these forms directly to your site supervisor and/or [email protected] if you are Swearer-affiliated.

​PPSD-Specific Confidentiality Forms

All students who plan to engage with the Providence Public School District (PPSD) must fill out and sign PPSDs. The agreement dictates that volunteers will protect confidential student and employee information protected by (but not limited to) FERPA and HIPAA.

You will complete these during your visit to one of the Engagement Preparation Days. If you are not able to attend those days, then please send the signed version of these forms directly to your site supervisor and/or [email protected] if you are Swearer-affiliated.

DCYF Clearance Forms

What is the DCYF Clearance Check? What does it look for?

  1. The DCYF Clearance Check are performed using a person’s name, date of birth and address. 

  2. The scope of the check is only through the RI DCYF database and records within the state of Rhode Island. It will not indicate if a person has an out-of-state criminal offense.

  • House of Child welfare check 
  • Convictions of sex offense with children in RI
  • Child abuse 
  • Child neglect 

 

 

Questions? Email [email protected].