What if I already have a valid background check?

• CMES cannot accept background checks you obtained from any other institution or facility.  AACPS requires background checks from their office only.

• If you are a current Anne Arundel County teacher, you do not need a background check.  You can use your AACPS badge, but you will need to present it every time you volunteer.

Why do you encourage a Fingerprint Background Check?

• Longevity: Fingerprinting covers you for all volunteer opportunities for the entire time you are an AACPS family.  That's 12+ years!!

• Future Proof: If you have a younger child, who is not yet in school, add them to the application for your current CMES student.  This covers you until your youngest child leaves AACPS.

• Fast Check-In: Fingerprinting makes check-in in at the front office much faster!  Present your license, they swipe it into the Raptor system, and you're in!  (Background checks without fingerprinting requires office staff to physically type in your information to search for your status.)

• Safety: Each time your license is scanned, the Raptor system pulls up any alerts from the Sex Offender Registry or other databases.  Give staff peace of mind to know that you are up-to-date as a safe presence at the school.

The only downside is the fee.  Fingerprinting costs a one-time $63 fee but, again, is good for the entire time you are an AACPS family.

Do I need fingerprinted?

A fingerprint-supported background check is only required for:

• All overnight volunteers or chaperones

• All Drown Proofing volunteers or chaperones (this is a 5th grade activity)

• Any volunteer or chaperone with one-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access to children.  In other words, interacting with a single child away from other classmates, teachers, or staff.

 All other volunteer opportunities require the basic background check.

How do I apply?

There is an AACPS page for Chaperone/Volunteer Background Investigations with a ton of information.

The standard background is the minimum needed to volunteer.  It is free but only valid for 2 years.  The application is located in the middle of the AACPS link above.  It says: APPLY FOR COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND CHECK

The fingerprint background check costs money (currently $63) but is good for your family’s uninterrupted involvement with AACPS (Pre-K through 12th grade). Call 410-222-5045 to make an appointment.

What happens next?

• Both background checks take approximately 3 weeks to process.

• Neither you nor the school will be notified about the results.

• Contact the school 2-3 weeks after submitting your paperwork and ask the front office to check your status.

• If you chose to get fingerprinted, you will get a card that verifies this. The CMES office will need a copy of that card.

All volunteers must view the Sexual Harassment / Child Abuse Training Video.  This can be located on the School Safety and Security page of AACPS.  At the bottom of this page, you'll see red headers.  You're looking for "Sexual Harassment/Child Abuse Training Video" or you can click the direct links below:

Step 1: Watch the video in English or Spanish

Step 2: Sign the verification form in English or Spanish

Step 3: Provide a copy of the signed form to the CMES office.

Note: You must renew this orientation and sign a new compact every year.

CMES provides an orientation for all potential volunteers (date TBD).  This can be held at the school or viewed as a slideshow online.  The orientation covers:

• The Anne Arundel County Public School (AACPS) philosophy behind volunteerism;

• The role of a volunteer;

• Policies and procedures relevant to the CMES volunteer program;

• Responsibilities of volunteers regarding safety and confidentiality;

• General information about the types of volunteer opportunities; and

• Much more!

Step 1: View the Volunteer Orientation

Step 2: Sign the Volunteer Compact

Step 3: Provide a copy of the signed form to the CMES office.

Note: You must renew this orientation and sign a new compact every year.

You will need to provide the following documents to the CMES:

1. Signed and dated Volunteer Compact

2. Signed and dated Video Verification Form

3. Fingerprint card (if applicable)

You may do this by…

• Bringing the documents with you when you arrive to volunteer

• Sending the documents with your student, in their folder, marked as needing to be sent to the office.

If you have any questions, contact the front office staff:

• • Debbie Martin at damartin@aacps.org

  • Laura Showler at lshowler@aacps.org

  • Nicole Meleney at nmeleney@aacps.org

Find out about volunteer opportunities by...

• Contacting your child's teacher to find out if they need any help with photocopying, preparing classroom materials, or anything else.

• Talking to the front office about being a Lunchroom Monitor.

• Talking to Cultural Arts Teachers, Resource Teachers, or other special areas to see if they could use assistance.

• Checking for any CMES or PTO volunteer opportunities announced in the Weekly Wrapup emails.

• Checking out the PTO SignupGenius page for all current opportunities.  If it's empty, check back later!

• Looking on the PTO Facebook page or via direct email to PTO members.

Remember...

1. All volunteers need to check in at the front office before entering the school.

2. All volunteers will need to bring their ID every single time - no matter how well known you are.

3. Wear your visitor badge at all times.  If it falls off, go to the office to get a new one.

4. Never use a student bathroom.  Adults may use the bathroom in the main office.

5. When you leave, return to the office to check out and return your visit or badge.