Maine law requires that all school employees have their fingerprints taken so that state and federal criminal background checks can be conducted. This requirement must be met within eight weeks from the date of hire. If an employee does not currently hold an approval certificate from the ME Department of Education, he or she must obtain a temporary approval (which is valid for the first eight weeks of employment) and then be fingerprinted during one of the available fingerprinting sessions established by the Maine Department of Education. Once you receive an approval certificate from the ME Department of Education, please forward a copy to the District Office.