Statement
Statement by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on the Office of the Inspector General Report on Montgomery County Public Schools' Background Check Process
For Immediate Release: Monday 4 August
The Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) findings in its report released today on the background check process for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are very concerning. As the largest school system in Maryland, MCPS has a profound responsibility to ensure the safety and security of over 160,000 students across 211 schools.
The report highlights that the criminal histories of more than 12,000 MCPS employees have not been added to the FBI’s Rap Back program. Additionally, 4,900 individuals who potentially have access to students have not undergone the required Child Protective Services (CPS) checks. These lapses are unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.
I have asked our Department of Health and Human Services to work with MCPS to develop a timeline for processing the backlog of background check applications. I appreciate the partnership between the County’s Department of Health and Human Services and the Maryland Department of Human Services and their willingness to provide additional resources to assist with CPS checks.
Ensuring the safety of our students is paramount. All employees, contractors and volunteers who have access to our students must undergo thorough and timely background checks. This includes completing initial criminal history checks and CPS queries and continuously monitoring criminal records through the Rap Back program.
I trust Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and the MCPS leadership will swiftly address the issues identified in the report. Our children’s safety cannot be compromised, and we must do everything in our power to protect them. I will closely monitor the progress of the corrective actions outlined in the report and ensure that adequate resources are provided to MCPS to achieve full compliance.
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Release ID: 25-019