Get Involved

Get Involved

Volunteers

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.

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).
  2. Wait for your application to be processed.

    3. Once your application has been processed, you will be notified of your status via email.

  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.

Volunteer Levels

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. There are no fees for "visitors."

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.

Use of Facilities During School Day Requests

Community-based organizations or individuals may wish to provide presentations to students during non-instructional time.

They must make a written request to have such access, and their application must go through a review process.

Polk County Public Schools has specific procedures and guidelines for community-based organizations or individuals who wish to submit a request. These procedures have been established to ensure compliance with Florida Statutes (F.S. 1001.433), School Board policy, and district safety standards.

This webpage provides access to important information, requirements, and the application form.

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.