Want to Volunteer? Get Cleared Now!

This post has been updated to reflect January 2019 updates to the District’s volunteer clearance process. 

Parents and guardians are needed to help with a variety of activities in and out of the classroom throughout the year.  You’ll notice that school clearances are required for just about all of the volunteer roles.

Want to help with your child’s Halloween class party?  You need your clearances.  Want to chaperone your child’s field trip? Pick up your volunteer badge and get on the bus!  Want to help with the yearbook? You guessed it: clearances required.

It can take around 2-3 weeks (longer if you go the snail mail route!) to get all of the records back and another 60 days to be cleared through the Raptor system, so you are highly encouraged to get your clearances as soon as possible (do it now!) so that you can take advantage of volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

The good news is, once clearances are obtained and filed with the school they are valid for 5 years.  Detailed instructions are included in the Volunteer Manual, but here’s what you need to do:

1.  Register online to obtain you FBI fingerprint background check. Enter service code 1KG6Y3 (this public-school code is specific for a volunteer through the Department of Education).  The cost is $22.60.
2. Get fingerprinted!  Click here for a list of locations.
3. Submit your application for the PA Criminal History Clearance online.  There is no cost for volunteers.
4. Submit your application for PA Child Abuse Clearance online. Again, this is free of charge for volunteers.
5. Once you have received all of the clearance reports back, submit through the District’s Raptor System.

The district will verify your clearances. This process will take 30-60 days to complete.A notification will be sent to you via email when you are approved to volunteer.

Please note:

• When submitting clearances through Raptor, you must have all three clearances ready for upload. All three are required for a successful submission.
• Once submitted, clearances will continue to be verified by administration.
• The submitted clearances must be the correct required clearances (please see “Submission of Clearances”). If a submitted clearance is one that is not accepted, it will result in a delay to volunteer.
• Once approved, volunteers will receive an email via Raptor. Volunteers will also receive an email from Raptor when their clearances are about to expire. The emails will automatically generate 90 days and 30 days prior to expiring.
• FCASD does not provide copies of clearances. Remember to keep your own!
• The most significant change will be the new timeline for volunteer approval. Clearances will be verified at the beginning of every month AND only once a month. Provided that all information submitted is correct, prospective volunteers can anticipate a 30-60 day waiting period before being approved. See chart below.