CPS requests final renewal of fingerprinting vendor Accurate Biometrics to handle background checks

Chicago Public Schools staff asked the Board of Education on Sept. 10 to authorize the second and final one‑year renewal with Accurate Biometrics for fingerprinting and related services at a proposed cost of $1,000,930.
Kimyatta Dabney, director of safety services, told the board Accurate Biometrics has partnered with CPS since 2001 and processes prints across multiple work streams including employment, vendors, volunteers, charter employees, pipeline programs and local school council members. Dabney said the vendor helped develop CPS’s managed service system that houses background‑check data and automates parts of the manual process. In school year 2024–25 CPS processed over 45,000 fingerprints across all work streams.
Why it matters: Background checks are a required step for many categories of school access and employment; the vendor’s throughput and reliability affect onboarding timelines and school staffing.
Board members asked whether mistaken hires have occurred and whether the vendor is responsible for any such errors; Dabney clarified that the vendor handles fingerprint collection and transmission while the district conducts the background review. Member Rivas noted that the renewal is final and that the district will re‑solicit the service after this term.
No vote was recorded at the agenda‑review session; contract renewal was recommended for the Sept. 25 regular meeting.