Day care workers to undergo stricter background checks

BOSTON (AP) - Day care administrators in Massachusetts say thousands of workers could be disqualified due to stricter background checks.

The Boston Globe reports that the new regulations allow the state’s Early Education and Care Department to review nearly any prior criminal offense, even if it’s decades old or was committed when the person was a juvenile.

The state will then tell administrators only if a person is suitable or disqualified from work, without sharing details about the decision.

The department estimates about 15,000 checks will indicate a conviction or charge that needs review. However, some day care administrators say up to 30 percent of their workers have backgrounds that would launch a review.

Disqualified workers can reapply after five years.