OESC-CSEO Website

August 31, 2010

As of August 31, 2010, the Revised RCMP Policy Directive has still not been released. We anticipate that the Revised Directive will be released within the next week or so. Unfortunately, until it is released OESC cannot resume our Police Record Check service.

We understand that once it is released it will require changes to OESC's procedures and to those of all Police Services across Canada.

In the interim, until we are once again able to resume our service, OESC is recommending to Boards that they only accept valid Vulnerable Sector Police Record Checks that have been obtained from Canadian Police Services and have been completed within the last six months.

Since there will be a large number of service providers to Ontario School Boards, including students from Faculty/College programs on practicum assignments, as well as volunteers and new hires who do not have this documentation for the beginning of the school year, OESC suggests that until they are able to provide boards with this documentation, those individuals without valid Vulnerable Sector Police Record Checks or valid OESC ID cards be requested to complete a Self Declaration Form indicating whether or not they have a Police Record and specifying the details of convictions if there are any. School Boards will provide the individuals who require it with the appropriate form. Those who complete the Self Declaration Form will be expected to produce a valid Vulnerable Sector Check report or valid OESC ID card as soon as they are able. Failure to do so could jeopardize an individual's placement.

Once the Revised RCMP Policy Directive is released, OESC’s procedures will be changed to reflect the requirements of the Ministerial Directive, and these changes will be communicated quickly to all Directors of Education, Deans of faculties of education, community college contacts and key contacts for each board and service provider registered with OESC.

OESC anticipates that we should be able to resume services shortly thereafter and we expect to be able to provide checks and adjudications and OESC cards for those individuals with Police Record Checks still outstanding very quickly.

As soon as more information is available, it will be posted on this website.

We regret the inconvenience that you are experiencing and appreciate your continued patience as the RCMP works through this matter.

June 14, 2010

While there remains every indication that this situation will be remedied in the very near future, Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) is still not in a position to conduct Police Record Checks for school boards and service providers including faculties of education and colleges.

OESC continues to maintain close contact with senior officials at the RCMP. It is our understanding that a revised Ministerial Directive for CPIC record checks has been completed and is awaiting official signature by Federal Safety Minister Vic Toews. The RCMP officials believe that the revised Directive will be published “very shortly”.

OESC has knowledge of the changes in the Directive and is confident that OESC will be able to provide timely (2 to 10-day) turn-around for individual Vulnerable Sector Police Record Checks very soon (within days) after the Ministerial Directive is signed. OESC will continue to adjudicate police records to a consistent high standard on behalf of Boards and will continue to issue OESC ID Cards to individuals.

OESC’s procedures will be changed to reflect the requirements of the Ministerial Directive, and these changes will be communicated quickly to all Directors of Education, Deans of faculties of education, community college contacts and key contacts for each board and service provider registered with OESC.

Please consult this web-site for up-to-the-minute information about this situation.

We apologize for any inconvenience that you are experiencing and appreciate your continued patience as we work through this matter.

As of May 10, the RCMP has not posted the much anticipated Revised CPIC Policy Directive. We spoke on May 7 with senior RCMP Officials who informed us that the release of the directive is "close" and "very soon".

We understand that the Revised Directive will permit OESC to resume its service of obtaining and adjudicating Police Record Checks on behalf of School Boards and other clients.

As soon as the Revised Directive is posted we will post the information on this web-site and by e-mail to our clients.

In the meantime, the best advice we have is to join us in being patient. We expect that the Revised Directive will require some changes to OESC's procedures and the requirements of clients. We will ask School Boards to adjust their procedures and timelines to accommodate the new requirements to ensure as seamless a transition as possible for the current year and upcoming School Year.

We sincerely regret to inform you that we are still awaiting final approval from the RCMP to resume the Ontario Education Services Corporation’s (OESC) Police Record Check Service.

We understand that a revised Ministerial Policy Directive must be approved. To date that has not been finalized by the RCMP/Federal Minister of Public Safety.

Today the standard of care required of school systems for the protection of students is higher than ever. Ontario Regulation 521/01 requires school boards to collect police records from all employees and from service providers who have direct and regular contact with students.

Since 2002, OESC, a non-profit agency representing all school boards in Ontario, has been providing Police Record Check services to the education sector on a timely, consistent and reliable basis. In the last year, OESC has completed and adjudicated 50,000 individual Police Record Checks.

We are doing everything we can to expedite the release of a revised Ministerial Policy Directive. In the short term, we are developing some interim suggestions for our “clients” which will be posted on our website no later than Monday, May 10.

Again, we sincerely regret that we all find ourselves in this situation and thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Please be assured that any new developments or breaking news will be posted immediately on this web-site.

OESC expects to be processing Police Record Check requests again by May 1, 2010. We are currently finalizing agreements and procedures, after much consultation with the RCMP and the Ontario government.

The procedures for obtaining a police record check have changed somewhat, to comply with a revised RCMP Policy. Details of the revised procedures will be sent to all OESC Clients, and posted on the OESC web-site as soon as they are completed.

We are getting close to a sensible solution for OESC, School Boards and Service Providers, including Faculties of Education and Colleges, and are working hard to expedite the process that involves the RCMP and two Ontario Ministries.

We hope to be able to announce by early April the details of a resolution that will result in OESC continuing to provide high quality police record check services to the Education Sector in Ontario. As soon as this information is available and approved by the RCMP, it will be sent by e-mail to all OESC stakeholders.

We realize that this break in service is frustrating for everyone - thanks for your understanding.

Bob Williams from OESC met several times in January with officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (policing) and the RCMP, and further meetings are planned for early February. All parties are committed to developing a resolution that will meet the requirements of School Boards, Service Providers, Colleges, Universities and the RCMP. We understand that there will be further clarification and direction from the RCMP by early February and it is hoped that this will provide the basis for at least a short-term resolution to our mutual problem. In the meantime, we cannot recommend any action except to wait patiently. As soon as more information is available, it will be posted on this web-site, and when any resolution is reached, all organizations that rely on OESC for service will be contacted by e-mail. Thanks for your understanding.

Bob Williams from OESC met with officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (policing) and the RCMP on Wednesday, January 6. It was a productive meeting, with all parties committed to developing a resolution that will meet the requirements of School Boards, Service Providers, Colleges, Universities and the RCMP. The options are being carefully evaluated. It is hoped that we will have the basis for a resolution shortly. As soon as more information is available, it will be posted on this web-site. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

OESC is meeting with officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (policing) and the RCMP on Wednesday, January 6. We will post a futher update on the morning of Thursday, January 7, hopefully with a resolution through OESC that will meet the requirements of School Boards, Service Providers, Colleges, Universities as well as the RCMP and Provincial Government.

On December 8, 2009, the RCMP published a new interim policy outlining national requirements governing police record checks. They took effect immediately. There was no consultation or forewarning for OESC and no transition plan for organizations such as OESC.

We are working very hard with senior officials from the Provincial Government and the RCMP to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.

There will be a revised set of forms and procedures required for any new process that involves the OESC in the future.

Please consult this web-site beginning January 5, 2010 for daily updates on the situation. We do not have the staff to be able to respond at this time to individual phone calls.

Police Record Check Services