AHCA/DOE Background Screening Clearinghouse for Private Schools

About the Webinar:

AHCA/DOE Background Screening Clearinghouse for Private Schools
Presented by Taylor Haddock, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and David Pinsky, Unit Manager, Background Screening Unit, AHCA

This session provided an in-depth overview of Florida’s Background Screening Clearinghouse, its expansion to include the Department of Education, and the operational changes affecting private and charter schools. Taylor Haddock outlined the Clearinghouse’s origins and purpose—to reduce redundant screenings and ensure timely arrest notifications for individuals working with vulnerable populations. With the passage of Senate Bill 676 (2023), the Clearinghouse now allows education institutions to share screening results across districts and school types, eliminating costly duplication and enhancing student safety.

David Pinsky detailed how schools can efficiently initiate and manage screenings through the Clearinghouse, including using the system’s status tracking, free agency reviews, and employee roster updates. He also highlighted new features such as the ability for schools to grant employment exceptions, improvements in turnaround times, and upcoming enhancements like an applicant self-service portal and national “rap back” integration for real-time arrest notifications across states. Together, the presenters emphasized compliance, cost savings, and streamlined communication between schools, applicants, and the state as key benefits of this unified screening system.