Getting Started
The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) would like to thank you for your interest
in volunteering in our schools. Each year, thousands of motivated individuals use their skills,
resources, and knowledge to impact the lives of children living in the nation's capital.
In order to be cleared to volunteer with DCPS, you will need to follow the steps outlined
below. You must have a confirmed placement at a DC public school before this clearance process can begin. Unfortunately, we are unable to make exceptions to these requirements.
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Confirm placement at a DC public school: If you do not have a placement, please
use the school profiles to reach out to a
local school to discuss your interest
in volunteering.
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Complete and save this application: You must complete the application in one sitting.
Please allow yourself at least 15 minutes and have all school and program contact information
available. Please complete the application via a laptop/desktop device, and not via a mobile phone. When completing the application, select the following:
- Application Type: "Volunteer, Supervised and Unsupervised"
- Organization: "DC Public Schools"
- Employer Contact Person: The name of your point of contact at the location where you are volunteering
- Employer Email: The email address of your point of contact at the location where you are volunteering
- Employer Phone Number: The phone number of your point of contact at the location where you are volunteering
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Complete TB Risk Assessment:When submitting the DCPS Clearance Application, you will be directed to self-report a TB Risk Assessment
Screening (embedded within the application), which will ask questions regarding your travel history, TB testing history, and possible TB virus exposure.
Based on responses to these questions, the assessment will either satisfy the TB screening requirement or you will be directed to complete a TB test
via your application confirmation email. If your risk assessment indicates that you must complete a TB test, you must provide TB test results to move
forward in the clearance process. DCPS accepts skin tests within the last one (1) year, blood tests taken within the last three (3) years, or chest x-ray analysis
completed within the last five (5) years. If a TB test is required, please send your results to the DCPS Clearance team (dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov).
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Application Station: A video resource of Application Station and completing the process can be found
here.
- Within 1-2 business days after submitting the DCPS Clearance Application, you will receive an email from applicationstation@truescreen.com
to complete online forms required for your clearance process. Please complete those forms and submit them on Application Station.
- Schedule and complete a FieldPrint fingerprinting appointment. Using the unique code and instructions provided at the end of your
Application Station form, you can schedule your FieldPrint Appointment.
- A SOR check will be automatically run after you submit your Application Station Forms.
Once your fingerprinting appointment is completed, you will receive a follow-up email with 5-10 business days. If cleared, this email will contain your DCPS volunteer clearance letter, which is valid for 2 years.
As such, please periodically check your spam filter/folder for your DCPS Clearance Letter once you have completed all requirements,
as well as add no-reply@dcpsclearance.gov, applicationstation@truescreen.com
& dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov to your email provider's safe senders list.
Please take this letter to your DC public school as proof of clearance and keep a copy for your records. You are not permitted to volunteer at a school without the volunteer clearance letter from DCPS.
In cases where background checks require follow up, you will receive additional information via email from the Office of General Counsel's background check team (dcps.backgrounds@k12.dc.gov).
If you need additional assistance, please email dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov.
Begin Volunteer Fingerprinting Application