Start here! Read these instructions carefully and make note of the important points at the bottom of this page.

Most of our partner school districts require teacher candidates to complete background checks BEFORE they can begin their field experience, and ALL districts require background checks for student teachers. The contact information for many area districts is listed below.

It is your responsibility to contact your placement school district and initiate a background check.

  • For placements in Bemidji Area Schools (ISD 31), follow the instructions below.
  • For other districts, email the contact person listed, give your full name and email address, explain that you are a Bemidji State University student completing field experience (or student teaching), note the name of the school(s) in which you are placed, and ask for instructions on how to initiate a background check. You may want to ask how you will be notified once you have cleared the background check. Complete this process as early as possible.

If your school district is not listed below, or if you have specific questions regarding background checks, you should call your placement school’s district office ASAP.

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Bemidji Area Schools (ISD 31)

  • Complete the Bemidji ISD 31 Background Check Form as a PDF form ONLY and email it to Madeline Marcott: Madeline_Marcott@isd31.net.
    • When completing the form,
      • You must list your current BEMIDJI address on the form (even if it is not your permanent address)
      • You must list your past seven years of addresses on the form
      • You must sign the form with a signature (either electronic or wet) (DO NOT PRINT YOUR SIGNATURE)

Bagley School District (ISD 162)

Blackduck Public Schools (ISD 32)

Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools (ISD 115)

Clearbrook-Gonvick School (ISD 2311)

Deer River Public School District (ISD 317)

Frazee-Vergas Public School District (ISD 23)

Kelliher Public Schools (ISD 36)

Laporte Public School District (ISD 306)

Mahnomen (ISD 432)

Park Rapids Public School District (ISD 309)

South Koochiching-Rainy River ISD 363 (Northome School)

Red Lake Schools (includes Ponemah Elementary) (ISD 38)

St. Philip’s Catholic School, Bemidji

St Mary’s Mission School, Red Lake

Schoolcraft Learning Community (ISD 4058)

TrekNorth Junior and Senior High School (ISD 4106)

Voyageurs Expeditionary School (ISD 4107)

Walker Hackensack Akeley School District (ISD 113)

  • Walker Hackensack Akeley Elementary School (Pre-K-5th Grade)
    • Contact Principal Jill McGowan at jillmcgowan@whaschools.org
    • NOTE: If you have a placement at both the elementary and secondary levels of WHA schools, only one background check is needed.
  • Walker Hackensack Akeley Secondary School (6th-12th Grade)
    • Contact Jane Proffit (janeproffit@whaschools.org).
    • NOTE: If you have a placement at both the elementary and secondary levels of WHA schools, only one background check is needed.

Willmar Public Schools (ISD 347)

  • Contact Liz Windingstad: windingstade@willmar.k12.mn.us
  • NOTE: If you have a placement at both the elementary and secondary levels of Willmar Public Schools, only one background check is needed.

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Notify the Office of Teacher Education immediately if you are ineligible to complete your hours at a certain school due to an issue with your background check. You will be scheduled to discuss your situation with a Clinicals Team member. You are not required to disclose your background check report to anyone. However, you may need to share certain information with a Clinicals Team member to identify an alternative solution for placement.

Important to Note

  • The State of Minnesota allows every school/district to require a background check of anyone entering the school or the school grounds.
  • Every school district decides what type of background check and/or drug screening it requires.
  • Every district may set its own eligibility parameters.
  • A Notary Public Signature and/or fee may be required to submit your background check authorization form.
  • Every school district may determine to pass the expense of the check/screening on to the student or it may cover the cost of these checks/screenings.
  • You may have to pay the fee with cash, check, or cashier’s check made out to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or the district.