Apply or Renew

Apply or Renew Volunteer Application

Two weeks are required for approval. Volunteer applications must be completed at least two (2) weeks before the expected volunteer service start date. See details below.

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Returning Volunteer? Renew via the Volunteer Portal
What type of volunteer role are you applying for?
Two Weeks Minimum Required for Approval
Step 1: Online Training – Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth
Step 2: Volunteer Handbook
Step 3: Volunteer Application (includes Background Check)
Step 4: School Approval

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Seattle Public Schools! Volunteer opportunities vary by school. We recommend that you complete the following application process after receiving confirmation from a school staff member about your volunteer role. Whether you are a parent, a family member, or a community member, the following resources will help you prepare to volunteer with our students.

SPS serves 50,000 vulnerable children and youth. We are committed to carefully screening volunteer candidates to ensure student safety as required by law, SPS policies, and the Washington Schools Risk Insurance Pool (our insurance provider).

If you do not have access to a computer or internet at home, please see the “Online Applications” section of our FAQ page.

Returning Volunteer? Renew via the Volunteer Portal

If you volunteered with SPS since September 2018, we likely already have a volunteer application on file for you. Please do not create a new volunteer application! Visit our Renew or Update Volunteer page for details.

What type of volunteer role are you applying for?

At SPS, the volunteer application process varies depending on the setting and area of service:

Category A Volunteer: All school and remote volunteer roles that support the school, staff, or students. This volunteer role can include direct student contact if the volunteer is supervised. District personnel must be on-site and within view if the volunteer will interact with students. Alternatively, another approved adult volunteer must participate in the activity and always be present. The standard volunteer onboarding process applies to Category A volunteers.

Examples: classroom or library assistance, field trip planning, office or recess support, and school newsletter editor.

Category B Volunteer: All school and remote volunteer roles that involve contact with students without staff or other approved Category A volunteers present. Additional screening is required for Category B volunteers. Please only apply for Category B if SPS staff specifically requested it.

Examples: math club coach, one-on-one tutor (including remote/virtual), mentor, and chaperone for field trips longer than three days.

Field trip chaperones and drivers: Only approved Category A or B volunteers can be recruited to serve in chaperone or driver roles.

Additional steps (chaperones) and screening (drivers) are required – check with the field trip organizer and/or review the Field Trips Procedures page.

Athletic volunteers who work with student-athletes apply directly to the Athletics Department. Please do not proceed with the steps outlined below – apply through the SPS employment portal.

Athletic sports include Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Slow Pitch, Soccer, Softball/Fast Pitch, Swim, Tennis, Track, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee (Middle School only), Volleyball, Wrestling.

All other sports coaches are onboarded by the school as Category B school volunteers with extra requirements (CPR & First Aid, Concussion, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Courses).

Garden volunteers and Self-Help Projects volunteers do not complete this volunteer application process. Instead, please review instructions from Self Help Projects.

Review the SPS Volunteer Handbook for more information about volunteer categories and application types.

Two Weeks Minimum Required for Approval

For the following reasons, volunteers must update their applications at least two (2) weeks before the expected volunteer service start date:

SPS receives up to 15,000 volunteer applications and renewals each year. Approval of each volunteer requires action by your school’s Volunteer Program Liaison (VPL) and one central office staff member.
Due to budget cuts, many school office positions were cut by 50% or eliminated, and central office staff are absorbing additional duties.
VPL duties are carried out by one member of the school office staff who has many other duties.

Step 1: Online Training – Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth

Nationally, 1 in 4 girls & 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before age 18. Through this course, you will help protect children by learning to recognize and respond to sexual abuse.

Complete the 17-min Adult Sexual Misconduct Prevention training.
Answer test questions during the training and on your volunteer application.

Step 2: Volunteer Handbook

Carefully review our online Volunteer Handbook to learn about volunteer responsibilities, rights, and tips for successful volunteering.

Step 3: Volunteer Application (includes Background Check)

Complete the volunteer application

Volunteer applications are processed online. Every year SPS volunteers save 14 trees by completing and/or updating their applications online. Thank you!
Once you are approved as a volunteer in our online system, your application materials will stay active for as long as you volunteer with SPS. Every two years, we will ask whether you would like to stay active and, if so, request your permission to complete a new background check.
If you experience problems creating your volunteer application, visit our volunteer portal guide for tips.

SPS is committed to providing students with a safe educational environment. This includes ensuring every volunteer and staff member completes an appropriate criminal background check.

SPS screens all volunteer applicants via the state criminal records database. This database is accessible to SPS for free via Washington State Patrol (WATCH). This background check is sufficient for all Category A volunteers who have lived in our state for three years.
WATCH does not produce criminal records outside of our state, and unfortunately, the federal government does not provide an equivalent database. Therefore, Category A volunteers who have lived in other states or countries during the last three years must purchase their background check from our partner vendor, Sterling Volunteers – the fee is usually $21.

If your volunteer role will involve spending unsupervised time with students (including as a remote/online volunteer), or you will chaperone 3+ day overnight field trips, you must complete the national background check even if you are a long-time resident of Washington.
School staff also checks references for volunteers who will serve in one-on-one tutoring or mentoring roles.

Selecting an incorrect background check type will delay your approval.

Every parent or caretaker should have the opportunity to participate in their student’s education. If you face barriers to completing the online background check, please review “Background check affordability” for information about assistance.

If your state background check is clear, you will be notified immediately via email.
If you purchase a national or international background check, you will receive your results directly from Sterling Volunteers, usually within a few days.
If there are any records on your background check or your report shows possible duplicates (criminal records of other Washington State residents who have similar names to yours), the school volunteer program liaison will process your background check manually. Expect an additional week for processing.

Please note: While all volunteers must be screened through the background check, a criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant from volunteering in the schools. If you would like to know if your criminal records may affect your ability to volunteer with SPS, please review this flow chart used by schools to determine eligibility.

Step 4: School Approval

Before your first volunteer shift, the school volunteer program liaison must verify your identity in person (or through an online meeting for virtual volunteers). Please have the following available:

Government-issued photo ID
If you did not complete the national (Sterling Volunteers) background check AND your Washington State ID was issued less than 3 years ago, please bring proof of 3-year residency in Washington State. Examples: older/expired ID, lease agreement, utility bill, school records. Make sure this document was issued at least three years ago and features your full name and a Washington State address. If your child attends the school, office staff may be able to review your child’s school registration records (not all staff have access to them).

During this last step, if the school volunteer program liaison confirms your identity and verifies that you selected the correct background check type on your volunteer application, they will add your name to the list of approved volunteers for that school.

If you have questions about your application or background check, call the school office or email the school’s volunteer program liaison.