Audit of Bristol Community College

This is a Massachusetts State Auditor performance audit of Bristol Community College covering July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018.

“This report details the audit objective, scope, methodology, finding, and recommendation for the audit period, July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018.”

Auditors checked whether students in the college’s Early Childhood Education and Child Care program passed required CORI checks before being placed in teaching practicums with children.

“Does BCC ensure that its Early Childhood Education and Child Care (ECE) Program students pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check before it grants them teaching practicums that involve working with children?”

The issue matters because students were allowed into schools or daycares without the college confirming whether they had criminal records, which could create a risk for children.

“Granting students teaching practicums at public schools or daycares without knowing if they have criminal records may pose a risk to children at those facilities.”

If you are a parent, student, taxpayer, or community member, this audit is about whether a public college followed safeguards meant to protect children in local schools and daycares.

“Career Program students participate in teaching practicums for infant/toddler, preschool, or school-age children, mainly in community-based daycares.”

The college lacked a tracking process, and auditors found that 46 of 64 relevant students did not have CORI checks performed by the college before completing practicums.

“Bristol Community College (BCC) had not performed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background checks on 46 of the 64 Early Childhood Education and Child Care (ECE) Program students who completed teaching practicums during our audit period.”

The auditor recommended that the college create a tracking process, and the college said it would implement one.

“The College agrees with the Auditor’s recommendation and will implement a tracking system.”

CORI means a Massachusetts criminal record check, and a teaching practicum is a supervised placement where education students work with children as part of their program.

“In this performance audit, we determined whether BCC ensured that students who were enrolled in its Early Childhood Education and Child Care (ECE) Program, before being granted teaching practicums that involved working with children, passed a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check performed by the college.”