How We Screen Our Teachers: Background Checks, Fingerprinting and References

Einstein Tutoring screens every educator with a criminal background check, fingerprinting and references before they are placed with a student. Those three steps matter because homebound, hospital and facility instruction often happens one-on-one, in a family's home or a treatment setting, without the colleagues and hallways that surround a classroom. Here is what each step covers, how screening fits with certification, and what any district can ask a provider.

Why does screening matter more outside the classroom?

In a school building, a teacher works inside layers of everyday oversight: other staff nearby, administrators down the hall, and routines everyone can see. When a student learns at home, in a hospital or in a behavioral health program, the teacher may be the only educator in the room.

Families open their homes to that teacher, and facilities welcome them onto their units. Careful screening is how a district, and any provider it works with, earns that trust before the first lesson.

What do background checks, fingerprinting and references each cover?

Each step answers a different question, and none of them is enough on its own:

• Criminal background checks: look for records that could make someone unsuitable to work with children. Which checks are required, and how often they are repeated, varies by state and district.

• Fingerprinting: ties the results to a person's identity rather than to a name alone, which makes the check harder to get wrong. Whether and how fingerprint-based checks are required depends on state and district rules.

• References: speak to how a teacher actually works with students, families and colleagues, something a database can't show.

Together, the three give a fuller picture of who will be teaching a student who can't be in school.

How does certification fit in?

Screening answers one question: is this person safe to place with a student? Certification answers another: is this person qualified to teach this student, in this subject, at this level?

Both matter. A student who needs structured literacy support, special education services written into an IEP, or an Honors or AP course needs a teacher matched to those needs, not just any available adult. Certification requirements for different settings and subjects are set at the state level, so they vary from place to place.

What should districts ask a provider about screening?

Whether instruction is delivered by district staff or a contracted provider, these questions help a district confirm that screening is real and complete:

• Which checks are completed before a teacher is placed, and are they fingerprint-based?

• How are references gathered, and who reviews them?

• How is certification confirmed for the student's grade, subjects and setting?

• Does the screening process meet your state's and district's requirements?

• Who is the point of contact if a concern comes up during a placement?

• How are student records protected under FERPA, and under HIPAA in health care settings?

Clear answers to these questions belong in the district agreement, not only in a sales conversation. Rules vary by state and district, so it helps to compare a provider's process with your own local requirements.

Key takeaways

• One-on-one instruction at home or in a facility puts extra weight on who is teaching.

• Background checks, fingerprinting and references each cover something different.

• Screening confirms a teacher is safe to place; certification confirms they are qualified to teach.

• Ask providers specific questions, and put the answers in the district agreement.

How Einstein Tutoring can help

Every Einstein Tutoring educator is screened with criminal background checks, fingerprinting and references before placement. Our team includes K-12 certified teachers, special education teachers, special education paraprofessionals and Wilson-certified teachers, so districts can match each student with the right educator for their courses and needs, across all core subjects, Honors and AP, world languages, electives and test prep.

We provide safety and quality assurance on every placement, follow FERPA and HIPAA, and give each district a dedicated liaison as one point of contact, along with session notes after every lesson and weekly progress reports. With 20+ years of experience and 100+ district partners, Einstein Tutoring works with school districts and facilities nationwide.

Frequently asked questions

Are screening requirements the same in every state?

No. Requirements for background checks, fingerprinting and certification vary by state and district. Districts should confirm that a provider's process meets their own local rules.

Does screening replace certification?

No. Screening helps confirm that a teacher is safe to place with a student. Certification shows that the teacher is qualified for the grade level, subject or service. Districts need both.

Is screening different for virtual instruction?

Live one-on-one virtual lessons still involve direct contact between a teacher and a student, so the same screening questions apply whether lessons happen at home, in a facility or online.

Have more questions? Read our Homebound Instruction FAQs. If your district needs a screened, certified teacher for a student who can't be in school, contact us to talk about a partnership.