Prince George’s County Public Schools appreciates the services that volunteers provide to enrich our students’ experiences. As a community we have a shared responsibility to create safe and supportive environments for all students.
During school hours, all visitors must sign in using the Raptor Visitor Management System and wear their Raptor visitor badge while in the school building.
The Raptor system enables schools to issue visitor badges with name, photo, time and date and reason for the visit; monitor volunteer and visitor hours; and scan government-issued identification cards to instantly check registered sexual offender databases in all 50 states.
All volunteers who regularly support schools as field trip chaperones, mentors, interns, tutors and others must complete the following training modules:
The training is available online through the SafeSchools training management system.
Only individuals who regularly support schools need to complete the training modules. This requirement does not apply to individuals who assist at one-time events under the supervision of PGCPS staff members at all times, such as volunteers for Career Day, Science Fair, College Fair, Spelling Bee, STEM Fair, Principal for a Day, Men Make a Difference Day, book fairs and school dances.
Volunteers must complete the online training modules in order to receive electronic confirmation and a certificate that this requirement has been completed.
As volunteers complete the training, participation is recorded and tracked in SafeSchools. In addition, the volunteer will receive a certificate of completion.
Upon completion of the training and receipt of the fingerprint background check and Child Protective Services (CPS) clearance, a volunteer can support the school.
No. Parents/guardians eating lunch in the cafeteria with their children are considered visitors, not volunteers.
Yes. Student-teachers, interns and mentors must complete the training modules.
The following categories of volunteers are required to complete fingerprint background checks and CPS clearance checks: volunteers regularly working in the schools (i.e., not one-time volunteers at a school event), field trip chaperones, mentors, interns, student teachers, concession stand workers and gate receipt workers.
Both the fingerprint background and CPS clearance can be done at the Sasscer Administration Building located at 14201 School Lane in Upper Marlboro. It takes approximately 15 business days to complete the fingerprint background and CPS clearance check process.
Please view the School Visitors, Volunteers and One-time volunteer: Requirement page for more information.
The volunteer is responsible for the cost of the fingerprint background check and CPS clearance check ($62.25). The background check will be waived for parents/guardians of a PGCPS student eligible to receive free and reduced-price meals (FARMS), but they must provide a copy of the FARMS letter.
No. The fingerprint background check and CPS clearance do not expire as long as the parent/guardian provides proof of the fingerprint check and CPS clearance.
A certified letter from the PGCPS Background Unit will be sent to volunteers who are not approved. Volunteers approved to support schools will be contacted directly by the principal/event coordinator.
If you have any questions or concerns about volunteer requirements, please contact the school. For more information, contact Monitoring, Accountability and Compliance Office at 301-952-6774.
