Apply or Renew
Apply or Renew Volunteer Application
Two weeks are required for approval. Volunteer applications should be completed at least three (3) 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.
![Crayon drawing depicting diverse children under a rainbow-colored umbrella.](http://www.seattleschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/student-safety.jpg)
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:
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 submit or renew their applications at least two (2) weeks before the expected volunteer service start date. One month is recommended for overnight field trips.
- 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 a member of the school office staff with a number of other primary 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 20-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 laws and policies volunteers are required to follow, volunteer rights, and tips for successful volunteering.
Step 3: Volunteer Application (includes Background Check)
- 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.
Step 4: School Approval
Before you can sign up for your first volunteer shift, the school volunteer program liaison must verify that you completed the correct background check level and confirm your identity in person. Please have the following available:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Proof of 3-year residency in Washington State — IF you did not complete the national background check (Sterling) AND your Washington State ID was issued less than 3 years ago.
- 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 has attended SPS for over three years, office staff may be able to use your child’s school registration records (not all staff have access to them).
Once these steps are completed, your volunteer program liaison will add your name to the Approved Volunteers List for that school.
If you have questions about your application or background check, call the school office or email the school volunteer program liaison.
How is volunteer information protected?
- SPS and Samaritan Technologies signed a memorandum of agreement for collecting, maintaining, and storing volunteer data to ensure volunteer information is rigorously protected and meets or exceeds accepted industry practices, including specifically the International Organization for Standardization’s standards ISO/IEC 27001:2005 (Information Security Management Systems- Requirements), ISO-IEC27002:2005 (Code of Practice for International Security Management). Review Samaritan Technologies Terms of Service.
- At the school level, each volunteer program liaison (VPL) receives volunteer application data for their school only and maintains a list of Approved School Volunteers. This list shows names of approved volunteers and their contact information so school staff can identify volunteers available to support their classrooms, field trips, or programs. Only SPS employees working at the school can utilize this list.