Volunteers

February 26, 2021 Update

Although MCPS is returning to some in-person instruction, MCPS will not extend any in-person volunteers at this time. Virtual volunteers are still allowed to provide their service based on the compliance measures completed.  See MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom form for more infomation.

MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom

In late September 2020, MCPS welcomed volunteers from long-standing partnership organizations to enter the virtual classroom to volunteer. Moving forward, an MCPS team of school-based staff, principals, and central office staff have been working to prepare a process to return individual volunteers to the virtual classroom to provide consistent and continuous support to students and staff, based on teacher need, and with school teacher and administration approval.

After review of the current MCPS policy for volunteers and applying the policy to the virtual classroom, the team created a process and the MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom form for individual volunteers to identify the following:

  • The volunteer service they wish to provide
  • Applicable compliance measures that are required to volunteer have been completed (recognizing child abuse and neglect training and/or fingerprinting, as appropriate)
  • Recognition and acceptance of the expectations for volunteers and MCPS staff depending on the category of support and supervision the volunteer provides

These compliance measures and expectations for each category of service are in place to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, and volunteers.

Montgomery County Public Schools encourages and welcomes school volunteers. The academic achievement and educational experiences of all students are enhanced by a community invested in their learning.

We invite parents, families, and community members to engage in volunteer activities in our schools–from kindergarten to high school–and become partners in teaching and learning. Our volunteer activities vary from school to school, and volunteers can help with a wide variety of activities.

Interested in becoming an MCPS Volunteer? There are a few steps to complete before beginning your service as a volunteer in our schools.

  1. Complete the Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form. This form serves as an introduction of yourself, your interests and availability in volunteering, and some important reminders about volunteers in schools.

  2. Complete the mandatory online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect training. This training is required for any volunteer who regularly supports schools, chaperones a field trip, etc. and is available in multiple languages. When the course is completed, a report is created to serve as proof of satisfying the training requirement.

  3. Contact the school(s) where you wish to serve and provide them with your Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form and your Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect training completion report.

Support guides with complete step-by-step instructions, the link to Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect training, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found below.

Volunteer Training on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

Online Training Support Guide (All Users)
New2 Español | 中文 | français | tiếng Việt | 한국어 | አማርኛ | Português

Online Training for
Parents/Guardians
Online Training for Non-Parents

(Contractors, Volunteer Coaches, Community Members)

New2 FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS ONLY

A ParentVUE account is needed to access and complete the Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect training. If you have already activated your ParentVUE account, refer to the support guide linked above and follow the steps below:

  1. Login to: https://md-mcps-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login_Parent.aspx
  2. Go to the “Parent Resources” tab
  3. Navigate to “myMCPS Classroom”
  4. Click on the “Resources” folder
  5. Click the link for “Volunteer Training”
  6. Enroll, go to, and complete the training course.

If you do not have a ParentVue account, you will need to activate your ParentVUE account in order to access the training, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect. To activate your ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school and request a ParentVUE activation letter. This letter has a unique key assigned to you that will allow you to create an account that is linked to all of your children in MCPS.

Need help with ParentVUE? Answers can be found in the ParentVUE Support Guide and on the MCPS Digital Backpack webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a community, we are mindful of our shared responsibility to create safe, nurturing environments for our students. MCPS is grateful for your commitment and partnership. Below are answers to frequently asked questions to help clarify volunteer training and background check requirements.

Who can be a volunteer?

Volunteers may include parents/guardians and other family members, as well as members of the community interested in the education of children, who are willing to donate their time and skills to support the students of Montgomery County.

How do I become a volunteer?

All volunteers who regularly support schools and school sponsored activities must complete the Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect training for volunteers and contractors. This training requirement also applies to student teachers and interns, volunteers who regularly help with school dismissal or recess, and those who attend field trips and chaperone outdoor education. The online training is provided in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Korean, Amharic, and Vietnamese.

Does everyone who provides support for schools and students need to complete the MCPS online training?

While we encourage all volunteers to view the informative training, currently only individuals who regularly support schools must complete the training. Individuals who support at large events or those who assist at one-time events under the supervision of school staff members are not required to view the training at this time. Below are examples of the types of activities that do not require completion of the training:

  • Guest readers or speakers in classrooms where they will be supervised by a MCPS staff member
  • High school/college recruiters and volunteers at job and college fairs
  • Individuals who are observing or supporting a celebration, party, or parents/guardians eating lunch with their children
  • Individuals staffing concessions and ticket booths at large events

How will MCPS know that I have completed the training?

Participation is recorded and tracked by MCPS. Schools will access a report listing the family and community members who have successfully completed the training.

If I completed the MCPS training in the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, or 2018-2019 school year, do I have to take it again in the 2019-2020 school year?

No. If MCPS records show that you completed the online MCPS Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect training, you do not need to repeat it in the 2019-2020 school year. Volunteers are required to complete the training every three years beginning after the 2017 school year. For example:

  • If you completed training in 2016-2017, you must renew training in 2020-2021
  • If you completed training in 2017-2018, you must renew training in 2020-2021
  • If you completed training in 2018-2019, you must renew training in 2021-2022

Once I've completed the training, can I begin volunteering?

Yes. However, volunteer coaches, overnight or extended day chaperones must wait until their criminal background check and fingerprinting results have been returned (see below).

How do I find volunteer opportunities?

The best way to begin volunteering is to contact the school directly to find out what volunteer opportunities are available.

What procedures do I follow when volunteering?

To best support school staff and students, volunteers are expected to follow these procedures each time they volunteer:

  • Volunteers must sign-in and sign-out of the building using the Visitor Management System (VMS).
  • Volunteers must wear the VMS produced volunteer identification name tag at all times while on school property.
  • Volunteers may not access confidential student or personnel records and should respect the confidentiality of students.
  • Volunteers working with students must be within view of other MCPS staff members and avoid unsupervised, one-on-one student contact.
  • Volunteers may not discipline students and should report behavior concerns to the supervising staff member.

What are the background check requirements for volunteers?

The following categories of volunteers are required to complete fingerprinting and background checks:

  • Volunteer coaches
  • Overnight chaperones on grade 6 Outdoor Environmental Education Programs
  • Volunteers on overnight field trips
  • Volunteers on extended day trips that require additional approval from the Office of School Support and Improvement. For example, if departure time is not within the MCPS operations start time and/or return time is later than 7:00 p.m.*

*All Athletics/Fine Arts trips travelling less than 100 miles on a single-day trip do not require fingerprint or background checks.

Where do I get information about background checks and fingerprinting?

Fingerprinting and background checks may be obtained at the following location(s) by appointment:

  • MCPS Office of Human Resources Development
    45 West Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
    301-279-3276
  • American Identity Solutions
    6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 110, Bethesda, MD 20817
    301-571-9479
  • American Identity Solutions
    12501 Prosperity Drive, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20904
    240-670-7952
  • American Identity Solutions
    7361 Calhoun Place, Rockville, MD 20855
    301-296-4499
  • American Identity Solutions
    12800 Middlebrook Rd., Suite 112-B, Germantown, MD 20874
    301-383-9651

Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns about my role as a volunteer, required volunteer training and/or background checks?

Please contact the school you wish to volunteer directly. For concerns not addressed at the school level, contact the Office of School Support and Improvement, Student Leadership and Extracurricular Activities at 240-740-4692. We also invite you to read our MCPS Volunteer Regulation to learn more about the requirements and expectations of school volunteers.