Clearance Information for Volunteers
Independent Volunteers are required to have all 3 clearances listed below. Assistive Volunteers are required to have the first two clearances and are able to complete the waiver in lieu of the FBI Fingerprints as long as they have resided in PA for the past 10 years.
Act 34 PA State Criminal Background Check - Free for volunteers
https://epatch.pa.gov/home
Act 151 Child Abuse Clearance - Free for volunteers
https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Act 114 FBI Fingerprint Clearance
Volunteer FBI Background Check (Service Code: 1KG6ZJ, fee $23.25)
https://uenroll.identogo.com/
All school volunteers must now obtain a volunteer Service Code from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). This change is in response to a bulletin issued by DHS that indicates all individuals governed by the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) must obtain clearances through DHS. This change includes all public, private, and nonpublic school volunteers. To obtain a volunteer Service Code, individuals must contact DHS directly at 1-877-371-5422 or RA-PWCPSLQUESTIONS@pa.gov.
Waiver Form - click HERE
The Ringgold School District welcomes and values volunteers in our schools. The information below will help you determine the type of clearances you will need in order to volunteer. Click the "Clearance Information" link to the left for shortcuts to all necessary clearances.
Volunteers at Ringgold School District are now required to have a Volunteer ID Badge.
Assistive Volunteer - Any individual who voluntarily provides services to the district, without compensation, and who (1) works directly under the supervision and direction of a teacher or administrator employed by the district; (2) does not have direct volunteer contact with students; and (3) does not have unsupervised contact with students.
Examples of Assistive Volunteers may include: homeroom parents/guardians, individuals who volunteer to assist in planning or conducting of classroom celebrations, assisting in a Book Fair, concert/performance ushers, and individuals who help manage, officiate or perform functions ancillary to an athletic event or extracurricular activity.
Independent Volunteer - Any individual who voluntarily provides services to the district, without compensation, and who (1) works under the general direction and supervision of a teacher or administrator employed by the district, and (2) provides direct services to students or may, from time to time, have or may be reasonably expected to have unsupervised contact with students.
Examples of Independent Volunteers may include: volunteers tutors, chaperones for field trips (including overnight field trips), and individuals who volunteer to provide counseling or health-related services to students.
School Visitors
School visitors do not need clearances or a volunteer badge. A visitor is an individual who is attending and/or observing an event or activity without providing a service to the students, staff, or school/district operations, examples include, but are not limited to: Parent/Teacher Conferences, School Assemblies/Concerts, Open House.
Contact Nikki Mathews at the Central Office.
nmathews@ringgold.org or (724) 258-9329 x1134
Ringgold's policy on Volunteers can be found on the district website, Board of Education, School District Policy Manual Section 916