Changes Required for PCPS Volunteers
Dear PCPS volunteers,
The Volunteer Office has an important update to the volunteer application process.>
Due to recent statutory changes adopted by the Florida Legislature, Polk County Public Schools will no longer accept new volunteer or renewal applications effective Dec. 20, 2024.
Please note this is only temporary, as it allows the district time to revise our current background screening process to comply with the new legislation. The planned reopening of volunteer applications with the new background screening process will be in March 2025.
This change in the volunteer application process is mandated under Florida Senate Bill 676, which was adopted during the 2023 legislative session. The bill elevates the volunteer background check from a Level 1 to a Level 2 screening — including fingerprinting for all school volunteers — effective March 1, 2025. This change also increases the cost of the background screenings to $97.25.
We understand this is a considerable expense and could be an obstacle preventing some people from serving as volunteers. The Polk County School Board is exploring whether any funding exists to help defray this background screening cost, or if community partners are willing to step forward to help cover a portion of this expense. However, at this time, no decision has been made regarding a possible funding source.
PCPS will use this time to update our screening process to align with the more extensive Level 2 background screening required by Senate Bill 676, and to make arrangements for the rescreening of nearly 20,000 existing volunteers beginning in the spring of 2025.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All PCPS volunteers will be required to undergo the new screening when it is implemented, and will no longer be able to serve until they are approved under the new requirements. Please note that exempt volunteers (PCPS staff, law enforcement, and college students screened through Pre-Employment Services) are not affected by this change. Additionally, students under the age of 18 are exempt from this requirement.
We want to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for all the dedicated volunteers who make a positive impact in our schools. Your time, effort and support are invaluable to the success of our students and school community. We are grateful for your ongoing commitment to enriching the educational experience for our students, and look forward to welcoming you back once the updated screening process is in place.
To view the entirety of Senate Bill 676, please visit https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/676.
If you have any questions regarding the volunteer application process, please reach out to the PCPS Volunteer Office at (863) 457-4708, option 2, or for more information visit the PCPS Get Involved page.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.