Volunteer

Within 7-10 business days of submitting an application, each volunteer will receive an email about the status of their application. Applicants who have passed the background check, will receive a link to schedule a 5-minute online identity verification appointment.

If you do not hear back about the status after 10 business days, please email volunteer@acps.k12.va.us.

Applicants will need to join the virtual appointment from a cell phone, laptop or tablet with a front-facing camera and microphone. They should also have their photo ID ready to show during the virtual appointment.

Participating in this appointment is the final step of the process!

Each volunteer will receive an email from Raptor once their application is approved.

Once approved, your application is valid for two years. You will then be able to sign in at your school as a Volunteer. Please ensure to have your ID ready when signing in.

Volunteers may include parents/guardians, other family members, our partners and members of the community interested in supporting education and/or investing their time and talents to support students in Alexandria.

ACPS uses the Raptor Volunteer Management system to conduct background checks for all applications. Anyone who has been convicted of an offense on this list of barrier crimes will have their application denied and cannot serve as a volunteer in our schools and facilities.

A volunteer is an unsalaried person who has completed the ACPS volunteer application and screening process and has been authorized to perform volunteer services for the school division. This includes anyone providing services to or interacting with ACPS students on an ongoing basis.

Visitors can help out teachers/schools as long as they are not alone with students or groups of students and there is ACPS staff present.

Please review the process listed above.

All volunteers who regularly support schools and school-sponsored activities must complete an application, review, and sign the ACPS Code of Conduct.

This Code of Conduct requirement also applies to volunteers who regularly help in the classroom and those who wish to attend field trips and chaperone.

Only individuals who regularly support schools must complete the Code of Conduct. This means those who volunteer on an ongoing basis, including enrichment providers.

Individuals who support at-large events or those who assist at one-time events under the supervision of school staff members are not required to complete the Code of Conduct at this time. 

Listed below are examples of the types of activities that do not require completion of the Code of Conduct:

• Parent/community members who serve as one-time guest readers or speakers in classrooms under ACPS staff supervision.
• Parents or family members who are observing or supporting a student's recognition, celebration, or party.
• Parents/guardians serving as a one-time lunch buddy or visiting to eat lunch with their children.

Acceptable forms of documents include:

• Driver’s License issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles
• Passport or Passport Card
• Government-issued photo ID card from federal, state or local subdivision
• Tribal enrollment or other tribal ID
• A valid employee ID card issued by an employer in the ordinary course of business (public or private employer)
• US Military ID
• Nursing home resident ID
• Voter Photo ID Card issued by a State Department of Elections
• Student ID for someone who is age 18 or older, issued by a public/private school of higher education displaying photo 39 (Note: this application is only for individuals who are age 18 or older.)
• Embassy issued IDs

It is essential that chaperones complete the Code of Conduct since they are often off-site and off school grounds with groups of students other than their own children, and may be unsupervised by ACPS staff members during those trips at certain times.

Raptor Technologies is the online platform ACPS uses for the Visitor Management System as well as for volunteers, sex offender screening, and the visitor, volunteer, contractor, and staff sign-in/out process.

Individuals wishing to volunteer with an individual school or multiple schools are able to complete their application online in English or Spanish by accessing the Raptor Technology systems links dedicated to the school division.

Completion of the Code of Conduct is recorded and tracked by ACPS.

Our Volunteer Specialist will receive a confirmation of your completion upon your signing. Once complete, you will be approved for two years.

The volunteer process usually takes about 7-10 business days from start to finish.

Filling out the online volunteer application should take approximately five (5) minutes.

Yes, but please remember to review the handbook to understand all guidelines.

ACPS Volunteer Handbook – English (PDF)

ACPS Volunteer Handbook – Spanish (PDF)

ACPS Volunteer Handbook – Arabic (PDF)

ACPS Volunteer Handbook – Amharic (PDF)

To best support school staff and students, volunteers are expected to follow these procedures each time they volunteer:

• Volunteers must sign in and sign out of the building using the Visitor Management System (VMS).
• Volunteers must wear the VMS-produced volunteer identification name tag at all times while on school property.
• Volunteers may not access confidential student or personnel records and should respect the confidentiality of students.
• Volunteers working with students must be within view of other ACPS staff members and avoid unsupervised, one-on-one student contact.

Please contact the school Family Liaison or the school you wish to volunteer directly.

For concerns not addressed at the school level, please email volunteer@acps.k12.va.us.