A state audit this week is criticizing the oversight of Michigan education officials for fingerprinting school workers.

Michigan’s Department of Education lacks any procedures to make sure school disctricts around the state aren’t employing people convicted of criminal offenses that prohibit them from working in schools.

Bridge Michigan reports that the Office of the Auditor General is critical of the department’s oversight of fingerprinting and background checks. State laws require Michigan school districts to ensure that all employees and contract workers are printed and have background checks. Some contract workers, however, were found to have been hired well in advance of being fingerprinted, which could present a potential danger to student safety.

The Department will discuss the auditor recommendations with the state’s Center for Educational Performance.