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1. How do I become a volunteer?
   Follow three easy steps to become a volunteer:

   • Step 1: Complete the online Volunteer Application form.

   • Step 2: Contact the school where you wish to volunteer to check the status of your volunteer application.

   • Step 3: Please remember to sign in and out in the front office. Your volunteer hours help not only students and teachers, but also help schools achieve awards from the Florida Department of education.
     

     
     
     

2. Do volunteers need to undergo background screening?
   Yes, background screening is a required part of the process. There are two types of background screening for Team Duval volunteers: Level I and Level II.

   • Level I Volunteers. These volunteers will always be in the direct view of district employees and are never alone with students. Level I volunteers undergo our standard Level I screening procedures, which includes being checked against the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website. 

   • Level II Volunteers/Chaperones. This group of volunteers most commonly includes chaperones for field trips and events. By requiring these volunteers to undergo a Level II background check, they’ll be screened for felonies and criminal violations, in addition to being checked against the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website.  

     
     

3. How is it determined what type of screening is needed?
   The type of background screening required for a volunteer will be determined during the application process when the applicant selects what type of volunteering role they are applying for.

   
   Note that the Level II screening provides a stricter background check as these volunteers work directly with groups of children and may or may not be outside the direct line of sight of district employees.
   
   

4. If a volunteer has already been approved through a Level I screening, is it required for the same volunteer to have a Level II screening? 
   If the volunteer will be chaperoning a field trip or working with students outside of the direct view of district employees, yes, the volunteer will need to have a Level II clearance. They can follow these instructions:
   

   • Log into their volunteer account.

   • Select "Edit Profile"

   • Scroll down to the "Volunteer Level" section

   • Respond to the questions in that section to update your volunteer level

   • Click "Save" when you are complete.

   • Within 24 hours, you will receive an email with instructions on how to begin the screening process.
     
     

5. How long will it take for my volunteer application/screening to clear?

   • Level I: If you are a Level I volunteer, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application submission.

     Please allow 5-10 business days for your application/screening to be processed.
     

   • Level II: If you are a Level II volunteer, you will receive an email with instructions on how to begin the Level II screening process. Please allow 5-10 business days for your application/screening to be processed.

     
     

6. How much does the Level II background screening cost?
   $80.00 - $100.00
   
   

7. When must a volunteer renew their background screenings? 
   Level I screenings are valid for 2 years. Level II screenings are valid for 5 years.

   
   

8. What if a volunteer has already been Level II screened through their employer?
   They will still need to go through the district's Level II screening process.
   
   

9. Where can I go to have a Level II screening completed? 
   Volunteers can select a LiveScan location that is most convenient for them. Once the volunteer registers to be fingerprinted, a list of locations will be provided for selection.

   
   

10. Are you checking my credit history to volunteer?
    No. If you notice language about a credit history check within the disclaimers of the volunteer application, it is because Datafacts who serves as the background screening vendor for the district, provides that service for other agencies. Therefore, they are required to include information on the Fair Credit Reporting Act within the application. We only do a criminal background screening and will not check your credit history. 

    
    

11. Who needs to fill out a volunteer application?
    Any person who may come into contact with students in volunteer roles such as assisting in the office, library or classroom; chaperoning field trips; and/or tutoring and school/booster activities should complete a volunteer application.  Additionally, parents/guardians or other parent-approved adults who desire to eat lunch with students in the cafeteria where other students are located also need to complete a volunteer application.
    
    

12. Why do I need to complete a volunteer application? 
    Student safety is our number one priority and based on school board policy, each volunteer or individual who will be interacting with students is required to submit an application to conduct a criminal background screening.
    
    

13. Who can I contact with questions regarding my volunteer application?
    If you have specific questions regarding your background check or volunteer information you should contact the Volunteer Department at 904-390-2960 or volunteer@duvalschools.org.  If you have questions about a specific volunteer opportunity at a school, you should contact that school directly.  
    
    

14. Who do I contact about the status of my volunteer application?
    Each school has designated staff that can check your volunteer status in the front office of the school. You may also contact the Volunteer Department to check the status of your application at 904-390-2960 or email volunteer@duvalschools.org.
    
    

15. When will I receive my volunteer badge?
    Each school will issue its own badges to volunteers. Level I volunteers are issued a “purple” badge and Level II volunteers are issued an “orange” badge.
    
    

16. Am I allowed to bring my other child along to chaperone on my child’s field trip?
    No.  Based on the Duval County Public Schools Field Trip Policy Handbook only designated students, authorized employees, and authorized chaperones may attend a field trip. Any unauthorized individuals are prohibited from attending field trip. Page 10 of the Field Trip Handbook lists specific individuals not permitted on field trips.   
    
    

17. Can my college-aged child chaperone their sibling’s field trip?
    It depends.  Volunteer Chaperones must be 21 years of age or a parent/guardian of a student participating in the field trip and are required to complete a volunteer application and be approved prior to the field trip.  If the child is 21 or above, they can chaperone.  If they are below 21, they cannot serve as chaperones. This information can be found on page 41 of the Field Trip Handbook beside bullet number 2. 
    
    

18. What if a student under 18 would like to volunteer at a school? Do they fill out the volunteer application?
    Students who are under 18 who desire to volunteer are required to fill out the “Under 18 Parent Consent to Volunteer Form” which can be found on the volunteer page: Volunteer page.