All volunteers are required to complete the online volunteer application annually. If you previously completed a fingerprint background check/CPS clearance and were approved to serve as a volunteer, be sure to indicate that you are a “Returning Volunteer” on this application. Once approved, your eligibility as an approved volunteer will expire on the last day of school for each academic year.

Returning volunteer renewal registration can be completed in just four easy steps!

• Use the email address you originally registered with and your existing volunteer identification number (VIN) to complete your registration for the new school year.

• Click the green plus + sign below the Register Volunteer column to enter/edit your personal volunteer detail that may have changed from the previous school year.

• Read and sign the disclaimer.

• Submit your registration.

Current PGCPS Employees

Current PGCPS Employees who wish to volunteer must log into the PGCPS Oracle Self-Service menu and select the option “Register to Volunteer.” Next select “Go” and then “Add Application” to initiate your application. Employees are required to provide a personal email address and a telephone number. For volunteer type, select Employee Volunteer. Once submitted your volunteer status will change to “approved”. Please note that the volunteer registration form is not available on Oracle’s Self-Service Limited menu. You must be logged into a computer on the PGCPS network or connect via VPN. Employees must complete this registration process annually to continue volunteering.

Employee volunteers are not required to complete Steps 2 and 3 below. Employees are required to complete all mandatory student safety (SafeSchools) compliance modules assigned to them based upon their current position using their employee SafeSchools account.

To ensure the safety of our students, PGCPS requires a fingerprint background check and Child Protective Services (CPS) clearance for each person who will provide volunteer services more than once each school year. These fingerprint background checks and CPS clearances help identify individuals with criminal offenses which may disqualify them from serving as a volunteer. The total fee for these clearances is $61.00 per applicant. This fee is waived for parents/guardians of students who are approved for free/reduced meals. You must bring a copy of the approval letter to your appointment. Please note that this is a one-time requirement for all volunteers. To schedule an appointment to complete the background screening process, please visit Fingerprinting and Background Office

Once you complete the online volunteer application, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application and assigning you a unique Volunteer Identification Number (VIN). Approximately 48 hours after your application is submitted, you will receive an email with a link to log in and complete the required training modules via the SafeSchools platform. You will use your VIN as your username to login and complete the required training modules. If it has been more than 48 hours and you did not receive an email with your training plan, go to https://pgcpsvolunteers-md.safeschools.com/login to begin your training. You must use the volunteer link and sign-in using your Volunteer Identification Number (VIN) in order to receive credit for completing assigned training as part of volunteer approval process.

Once all of the PGCPS steps (1-3 above) have been completed, you will receive an email from PGCPS titled "Volunteer Application Approved." Please complete the last step by completing the CMIT NMS SY26/27 Approved to Volunteer or Chaperone Form.

Your eligibility as an approved volunteer will expire on the last day of school of each academic year. All school volunteers must indicate their desire to continue as a volunteer each school year by renewing their volunteer application after July 1st of each new academic year.

If you have questions about:

    ◦    Volunteer opportunities at a school, contact your local school (https://offices.pgcps.org/schools).

    ◦    Volunteer opportunities for businesses and community organizations, contact the Community Partnership Office

    ◦    CPS Clearance Checks (301) 780-2191 hr.customerservice@pgcps.org

    ◦    Fingerprint Background Check (301) 952-7831 hr.backgroundunit@pgcps.org

    ◦    SafeSchools Training Modules (301) 952-6774 safeschools.training@pgcps.org

    ◦    Volunteer Application Process (301) 952-6380 volunteers@pgcps.org