Get Involved

Get Involved!

Whether they’re assisting in classrooms, mentoring children on a one-on-one basis, or lending their time and efforts to district-wide initiatives, volunteers play a vital role in Polk County Public Schools’ mission of delivering a high-quality education to every student.

Become a Volunteer

On Dec. 12, 2024, Polk County Public Schools announced that changes would need to be made to our volunteer background checks as required by a new state statute.

This announcement created a great deal of concern as it appeared that all volunteers would need to undergo a more extensive and costly Level 2 background screening, which would require a person to provide their fingerprints as part of the screening process and have their information submitted to the state’s new online clearinghouse.

Fortunately, Polk County Public Schools has received new guidance about state-mandated volunteer background screening requirements going into effect this year.

Based on this guidance from the Florida Department of Education, many PCPS volunteers will not be required to undergo a Level 2 background check.

PCPS has created three classifications to help clarify who needs a background check, what type of background check is required, and whether the individual must be monitored by a staff member:

  • Visitors — No background check required. Visitors must be monitored by a staff member at all times and follow the process to sign-in and sign-out though the school’s front office.
  • Volunteer (Level 1) — A background check of Level 1 and approved volunteer application is required. Volunteer (Level 1) MUST always be under the direct supervision or line-of-sight of a PCPS employee.
  • Volunteer (Level 2) — A background check of Level 2 and approved volunteer application is required. Volunteer (Level 2) are NOT required to be under the direct supervision or line-of-sight of a PCPS employee at all times.

We are happy to report that current PCPS volunteers will now be designated as Volunteer (Level 1), and they can continue their service in our schools. In addition, the volunteer renewal and application process for a Volunteer (Level 1) screening reopened on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.

The school district is still developing a Volunteer (Level 2) screening process. We will provide an update once this new process is ready for application submissions.

Below is additional information on these three classifications, including what types of activities each classification can perform and whether the individual must be monitored by a staff member.

Visitors:

Visitors must be signed into Raptor as a visitor/guest and will be monitored by a staff member at all times.

The following activities do not require a background check. Instead “visitors” are only required to adhere to our school sign in and sign out process via Raptor in the front office.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and we ask that you contact the school volunteer coordinator or the district office for questions about activities not listed here.

Volunteer (Level 1):

Must have an approved volunteer application and Level 1 background screening so long as they are under the direct supervision of a PCPS employee.

The following activities have been identified as those where the volunteer would only require the Level 1 background check, which includes any current PCPS volunteers in our system.

Please keep in mind that all of these activities require that the volunteer be under the direct supervision or line of sight of a PCPS employee at all times.

Volunteer (Level 2):

Must have an approved volunteer application and Level 2 background screening completed since they may not be under the immediate direct supervision of a PCPS employee.

While the list below mirrors that of a Level 1 Volunteer those performing the activities listed below without direct supervision of a PCPS employee are required to have a Level 2 background check completed.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are certain individuals who are classified as “exempt volunteers” because they have already undergone a Level 2 background screening. Exempt volunteers include: PCPS staff, law enforcement officers, college students screened through Pre-Employment Services, and any individual currently screened through the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Clearinghouse.

Required Fees:

  • Visitors = No Cost
  • Volunteer (Level 1) = $25
  • Volunteer (Level 2) = $97.25 ($67.25 for the required background checks via Field Print and $30 for the fees associated with the state’s (AHCA) online clearinghouse)

Need help?

We realize that you may have questions regarding specific events and/or activities not listed here. We ask that you please contact your school’s volunteer coordinator or the district office (863-457-4708 and select option 2) to help clarify the requirements based on the specific nature of the activity.

PCPS will soon post additional resources to polkschoolsfl.com/community/getinvolved to further clarify the distinction between a Visitor, Volunteer (Level 1), and Volunteer (Level 2).

Ready to get involved and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our children?

Volunteer Opportunities

Here’s how to become an approved Polk County Public Schools volunteer:

1. Complete an online volunteer application for either (Level 1) or (Level 2). 

  • District Volunteer (Level 1) Application - Complete the application and submit your online payment of $25. This fee covers your background check.

  • District Volunteer (Level 2) Application - More information regarding the application process is coming soon!

2. Wait for your application to be processed.

Once your application has been processed, you will be notified about your approval status within three weeks.

3. Attend a school orientation.

Contact the school where you would like to volunteer to inform them of your approval and request a school orientation.

Approved Volunteers Transporting Students

Approved volunteers seeking to transport students in their private vehicles must complete an additional application.