Liz Burke, WPRO News

A Cranston mother who was not allowed to volunteer at daughter’s school has settled her lawsuit against the school department.

At the time, Cranston required at criminal background check for parents seeking to volunteer. Jessica Doyle had a criminal drug history, spending 90 days in jail for heroin possession. But Doyle had gotten clean years ago before having her daughter.

The ACLU accused the School Department of discriminating against Doyle.

The school department has now passed a new policy to eliminate drug and other criminal offenses as automatic disqualification from volunteering. Now the school Superintendent, if requested, will look deeper into the background of a parent who is considered to have a “disqualifying” criminal record

Doyle is now allowed to volunteer at her daughter’s school.