Renew or Update Your Volunteer Application

Thank you for your past volunteer service – we are excited you are interested in continuing to volunteer with Seattle Public Schools or take on a new volunteer role! If you have previously reviewed the information below, you can go directly to the volunteer portal. For technical tips on navigating the portal, see our portal guide.

1. Volunteer Handbook
2. Renew or update your volunteer application (renewal includes Background Check)
3. School Approval
Leaving the volunteer program
Frequently Asked Questions

Two weeks minimum are required for renewal

For the following reasons, volunteers must update 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. Your school’s Volunteer Program Liaison (VPL) and one central office staff member must approve each volunteer.
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 school office staff member, who also has many other responsibilities.

How to verify if you already have an application with SPS

Please visit our volunteer portal guide for step-by-step instructions.

Steps to Renew Your Volunteer Application

Follow steps 1-3 below even if your application was approved prior to the current school year.

1. 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.

2. Renew or update your volunteer application (renewal includes Background Check)

Access your volunteer information through the volunteer portal, where you can:

transfer your existing application to other SPS schools,
approve a new background check up to 30 days before it expires (required every two years),
update your criminal history, if applicable,
add or update your contact or emergency information.

If you experience problems updating or renewing your volunteer application, visit our volunteer portal guide for tips.

3. School Approval

The school volunteer program liaison will verify your information before your first volunteer shift at a new school. If the school volunteer program liaison confirms your identity and verifies that you completed the correct background check type, they will add your name to their school’s “Approved Volunteers List.”

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

Leaving the volunteer program

If you don’t plan on returning to any SPS school as a volunteer, you can opt out of volunteering via one of the following methods:

Submit your resignation via an online form.
When you receive an email from our volunteer application system requesting that you renew your application, look for an “opt-out” link at the bottom and click for instructions.
We will email you every two years to allow you to renew or opt out of volunteering.

We archive applications that have been expired for more than two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

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. Background checks must be renewed every two years.

New and returning volunteer applicants are screened for free by SPS via the state criminal records database – WATCH. This background check is sufficient for all Category A volunteers who have lived in our state for three years.
If you moved to Washington State less than three years ago but purchased the national background check two years ago, contact your volunteer program liaison so they can verify and approve your renewal without additional cost.
More information is available here.

Suppose your volunteer role will involve spending unsupervised time with students (including as a remote/online volunteer), or you will chaperone an overnight field trip lasting at least three nights. In those cases, you must complete the national background check even if you are a long-time resident of Washington. More information is in the Volunteer Handbook.
When updating your volunteer application, select clearance Category B or C. Once you submit this change, an email from Sterling Volunteers will be sent to you with instructions on purchasing your national background check.

If your application only requires a state background check, your volunteer portal dashboard will show “Eligible” or “Pending” immediately. “Eligible” means your background check came back clear automatically. “Pending” requires the liaison to submit your results to the central office, which may take up to two weeks.
If you purchase the national or international background check, you will receive your results directly from Sterling Volunteers, usually within a few days.

Criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant from volunteering in the schools. However, if you do not disclose all your past convictions, you will be ineligible to volunteer with SPS.

If you’d like to know if your criminal record may affect your ability to volunteer with SPS, please review this flow chart to determine your eligibility.

Volunteer re-authorization times vary by school – please allow at least two weeks. Remember to attach your WA State ID to the application to speed up your background check verification.