Disqualified Consent Forms
When an educator submits an I-LEAD consent form, they may receive a “Disqualified” status. If this happens, the provider admin and disqualified educator need to take additional steps before the educator can start or return to work.
What is a “Disqualified” status?
This status is assigned on I-LEAD to educators whose background checks and/or IdentoGo fingerprint Applicant TCNs were flagged for an additional review by the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) Background Check Department.
The educator and provider receive a letter informing them about the reason for the disqualification. The provider letter also informs of a 10-day deadline for the provider to submit how they plan to comply with the law about allowing a disqualified individual around children. The educator letter gives the reason for the disqualification and their challenge rights. If you have questions about your disqualification, email qualification.review@fssa.in.gov for guidance.
The consent will show a disqualified status by the 11th day after the letter unless there is a challenge, or the provider gives a date of termination prior to the 11th day.
Common Reasons for Disqualifications:
- Child welfare substantiation (regardless of time limit).
- Criminal history findings from another state.
- Felony arrest (Over 10 years or any dangerous felony; Misdemeanors are not a disqualification).
- Invalid fingerprint submission.
- Juvenile consent form submitted without qualifying letter sent by the Indiana State Police (ISP).
Notification of Disqualification on I-LEAD:
A “Disqualified” status may later appear on I-LEAD in the educator’s View Consent Form section and/or the provider admin’s Associated Educator roster as a result of the additional background screening. Educators with this status should log in to their I-LEAD accounts, redo their consent form and upload supporting documentation to dispute the status.
Provider admins: Do not remove educators from your Associated Educator roster until you determine if the educator can dispute their disqualification.
Removing the disqualified educator will prevent them from appealing the disqualification status on I-LEAD and terminate them from the license. Only remove them if the basis for the disqualification warrants termination due to lack of disputing evidence.
How to Dispute the Disqualification:
Educators can dispute their “Disqualified” statuses if the provider admin does not remove them from the Associated Educator roster. The educator should do the following:
- Log in to I-LEAD.
- Click the Begin Consent Form button on the I-LEAD Dashboard.
- Verify that the Select All Valid Providers checkbox has a checkmark at the top of the page. If not, click to check the box. This selects all licenses to complete a consent form.
- Click the Form Information button in the bottom right corner to advance to the next page.
(Mobile Users: Turn the phone on its side to enable landscape mode. The buttons to proceed to the next page are green with a white arrow pointing to the right.)
5. Complete all available fields. The educator should only enter their personal information in this section. If the name needs to be adjusted, change the profile information before continuing. Once changed, click Begin Consent Form and Restart Consent Form for the changes to appear. Include all previous names (e.g., maiden name or previous married names) on the consent form so that if the name has changed, OECOSL is aware of all names they need to search to find the results.
- Inkless Transaction Number: This section is where educators should submit their nine-digit fingerprint Applicant TCN (minus the ‘i’) from the IdentoGO fingerprint receipt. Adding the Applicant TCN here will submit a copy of their fingerprints to licensing for processing. If fingerprints are not due for renewal, re-enter the information from your last fingerprint receipt. Those who do not have their initial receipt can save their consent form and call IdentoGO to request the Applicant TCN over the phone. Those who have expired fingerprints need to reschedule their fingerprints with IdentoGO and enter the new Applicant TCN on their consent form. Fingerprints expire every three years.
6. Once all fields in Form Information are completed, click Legal Release to move on.
(Note: This button only appears if all fields are completed. For a list of submission tips, see the FAQ section of the consent form article.)
7. Type your name on Electronic Signature to provide permission for licensing to conduct a background check via your consent form and fingerprints.
8. Click Documentation in the bottom right of the screen.
9. Educators are required to upload qualifying paperwork to dispute their disqualification. Educators can upload up to five files (Accepted formats: .jpeg, .tif, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .tiff; Max file size: 5 MB).
- Some common items uploaded include:
- CPS case paperwork results.
- State background checks from the police department.
- Expungement paperwork.
- Corrected fingerprint receipt with new Applicant TCN or updated name.
- Court paperwork.
- Out-of-state background check results.
- Naturalization paperwork.
(Right click on the image and select Open in New Tab for full-view mode.)
10. Click Submit to move to the final signature page.
11. On the Submit screen, type your first and last name in the Electronic Signature box. Additionally, click on the “I Agree To All Terms" checkbox. For juveniles, the parent or guardian will need to complete this section on the minor’s behalf.
12. Once submitted, the educator will be re-routed to the I-LEAD Dashboard, and the consent and fingerprint counter will reset.
Once the new consent form is signed and submitted, the supporting documents will be used to re-determine eligibility to work in a child care setting.
If the paperwork is sufficient, a “Qualified” status will replace the “Disqualified” status.
If not, the provider and educator will receive notification of the verdict. Provider admins should remove staff who no longer work for them by entering their “Submitted Date” as the termination date by clicking Remove on the Associated Educator roster.
