We love our parent community and rely on your energy, talent, and support to make this school year unforgettable for our students! Whether you want to chaperone field trips, help out in the classroom, or assist with school events, we need you.
⚠️ Important Annual Requirement: Chicago Public Schools (CPS) clears all volunteers for exactly one school year at a time. Even if you were fully approved last year, all volunteers must submit a new application every school year on or after July 1st. If you haven't renewed yet for this year, your clearance has reset, and you'll need to follow the steps below.
How to Complete the CPS Volunteer Process
CPS divides volunteers into two categories:
- Level II (Most Common): For supervised volunteering less than 10 hours a week (e.g., standard day field trips, classroom celebrations, or reading to a class).
- Level I: For unsupervised volunteering or higher-commitment roles (e.g., overnight field trips, coaching, or mentoring).
1.Submit Your Online Application:Takes 5-10 minutes.
Go to cps.edu/volunteer and click on the application link.
- New Volunteers: Create a brand-new account.
- Returning Volunteers: Log into your existing account, select the "Applications" tab, and click "Add New Application" for the current school year.
- Make sure to specifically select our school on your application!
2.Present Your Photo ID to the Main Office:Immediate action required.
Once you submit the online form, bring your physical government-issued photo ID (Driver's License or State ID) to our school's main office. We must verify your identity in the system before CPS can run its background checks.
3.Complete District Checks & Online Training:Watch your email.
Keep a close eye on the email address you used to register.
- Level II applicants will receive an email to complete a mandatory, brief online "CPS Parent Volunteer" training through SafeSchools. Your application will not be fully approved until this is done.
- Level I applicants will receive specific email forms to get a fingerprint background check (free at Accurate Biometrics locations) and will need to provide a negative TB test result.
Approval can take anywhere from a few days for Level II up to four weeks for Level I. Please don't wait—start your application today so you are completely cleared and ready to participate as soon as opportunities pop up!
Thank you for your dedication to our students and staff! If you have any questions, please reach out to the school main office.