Volunteer Screening Requirements

1. WATCH THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT/CHILD ABUSE TRAINING VIDEO

• Required For All Volunteers

• Required Every School Year  
  
  Watch the video AND Submit a Verification Form to Your Child’s Homeroom Teacher or to the School Office

1. Watch the Video  | Ver el vídeo

2. Download the Verification Form | Descargue el formulario de verificación

2. PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK

Background checks are divided into two categories: commercial background checks and fingerprint-supported background checks. See below for steps to complete each type of background check. If you aren't sure which kind of background check you need, please contact the PTA member who is coordinating your volunteer time. 

Still Have Questions?
Visit AACPS.org to learn more: Background Checks - General Info. | Fingerprinting Q&A

COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND CHECK [Electronic, Provided by ScreenID ] — FREE 

• Required for All Volunteers 

• Required Every Two Years (Unless You've Passed a Fingerprint-Supported Background Check)

• If You've Already Had a Fingerprint-Supported Background Check, You DO NOT Need to Apply for a Commercial Background Check

Application Submission Requirements:

• You must have a valid email address to request a commercial background check.

• Submit your application using Google Chrome from a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. 

• Do not submit an application from a mobile phone, or it may not process correctly.

Steps:

1. Use the form below to start the process.

2. Once ScreenID receives your initial submission, you’ll get a confirmation email from Screen ID and instructions to complete the application process. 

3. Screen ID will verify that they’ve received your completed application.

4. You'll receive your background check results within three weeks. If you don't receive them within three weeks, please contact Sydney McCarren in our front office at 410.975.9432.

START THE BACKGROUND CHECK APPLICATION NOW

FINGERPRINT-SUPPORTED BACKGROUND CHECK [In Person]  —  $63 

• Required for Volunteers Who May Have One-on-One Unsupervised/Unrestricted Access to Students

• Required Only Once During Your Family's Uninterrupted Education With AACPS 

Any volunteer or chaperone with one-on-one unsupervised/unrestricted access to children must be fingerprinted. One-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access means a person responsible for a student while not in the direct continuous view of an AACPS employee, including PTA parents covering recess duty for teachers, which may, for example, require one-one-one unsupervised access in the event of indoor recess. If you aren’t sure if you need a fingerprint-supported background check, please contact the PTA member who is coordinating your volunteer time. 

Fees & Processing Time: 

• The cost of fingerprinting is $63.00, which includes the commercial background check. 

• Please schedule your background check at least three weeks before your scheduled volunteer event to allow processing time.

Steps: 

1. Call the Fingerprinting Office at 410.222.5045 to schedule a time (Academic year hours are: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (M, Tu, Th, F) and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.(Wed). 

2. Visit the Fingerprinting Office at Dr. Carol Sheffey Parham Building located at 2644 Riva Road Annapolis, MD 21401, during your scheduled time. 

3. You'll receive a pink "Fingerprint Verification Card" after your fingerprinting. 

4. Before you volunteer, visit the school office and offer your Fingerprint Verification Card so the school can make a copy of it.   

5. Bring your Fingerprint Verification Card anytime you volunteer on school grounds and be prepared to show it to school administrators upon request.

Direct all questions regarding this process or to confirm the results of a fingerprint-supported background check to the Office of Investigations at 410-222-5287.