Public Comment in Support of Repeal of 8VAC20-830
(Fee Requirements for Criminal Background Check Processing Applications)

I write in strong support of the fast-track repeal of the fee requirements outlined in 8VAC20-830. As President & CEO of Hopkins House, which operates two preschool academies in Northern Virginia serving over 200 young children each year, I see firsthand how these fees create unnecessary barriers for both educators and childcare providers.

Hopkins House employs 55 educators and administrators, along with substitutes, kitchen staff, and family support personnel — all of whom are required to undergo criminal background checks. These checks are essential to maintaining child safety, a goal we strongly support. However, requiring employees to bear the cost — often as much as $72.73 in Virginia, and frequently exceeding $100 for those with out-of-state work histories — places a significant financial burden on individuals working in one of the lowest-paid sectors of our economy.

These costs are not one-time expenses. Background checks are not portable between employers, meaning that educators must repeatedly pay these fees when changing positions within the field. This creates a recurring financial barrier that discourages qualified individuals from entering or remaining in early childhood education — a field already facing severe workforce shortages.

For providers, the impact is equally challenging. Some programs absorb these costs and pass them on to families, further increasing the already high cost of childcare. Others, like Hopkins House, require employees to pay, which can deter otherwise qualified candidates who are already financially stretched. In either case, these fees ultimately reduce workforce stability and limit program capacity.

Reducing administrative hiring costs is a practical and meaningful step toward strengthening the early childhood workforce. Removing these fees will help providers recruit and onboard staff more efficiently, maintain appropriate teacher-to-child ratios, and ensure consistent, high-quality care for families. This is particularly critical for nonprofit and community-based providers operating on narrow margins, where even modest cost reductions can have a significant impact.

The proposed repeal of 8VAC20-830 represents a thoughtful and responsive action to provider feedback. It removes an unnecessary barrier while preserving the essential safeguard of background checks themselves.

Thank you for your consideration and for your continued efforts to support Virginia’s early childhood workforce and the families who depend on it. I strongly endorse the use of the fast-track process to repeal 8VAC20-830.