Volunteer

Volunteers play an important role in our school district. We are grateful to parents and community members who contribute their time and talents to supporting our students.

All volunteers must pass criminal history and sexual offender registry checks and comply with WCPSS Board policy 5020: Visitors to the School. There is no cost to applicants, and processing typically takes 24–72 hours, though it may take longer during high-volume months such as July, August, April, and May.

When you arrive at a school to volunteer, you must always go to the main office first and sign in using the Visitor Management System. This lets school staff know who is in the building. Because each school and classroom may operate differently, it is important to ask for directions to the classroom, the protocol for entering during instruction, where to place your belongings, which restrooms to use, details about your assignment, and any classroom protocols you should follow.

Questions about volunteering in our schools? First reach out to your school’s volunteer coordinator. If you need additional assistance, contact the District Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@wcpss.net.

Start Your Volunteer Registration

How to Register as a Volunteer

Go to the MyVolunteer site.
You’ll find the disclosure and authorization forms, the WCPSS Volunteer Agreement, and a summary of rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Review these documents carefully and provide the requested information.
Enter your name and contact information.
Do this at the beginning of the registration process. If you leave the CRC background site before completing this section, you will have to start over.
Provide your Social Security number.
This is required to register as a volunteer. If you do not have a Social Security number, email volunteers@wcpss.net for assistance.
Wait for notification.
The MyVolunteer system will notify you directly if you are approved to volunteer.

Get involved

Parent and Community Volunteers

Parent and community volunteers play a vital role in supporting student success and strengthening the school community.

All WCPSS volunteers are required to register through the MyVolunteer system, and we encourage families to apply early—especially if you plan to chaperone a field trip, since applications should be submitted at least 20 calendar days in advance.

Beyond field trips, there are many ways to get involved. Check with your child’s teacher, school principal, or PTA to learn about opportunities where your time and talents can make a difference. Whether you can help regularly or just once in a while, your involvement is valued and appreciated.

Employee Volunteers

WCPSS employees seeking to volunteer in the schools do not have to complete a criminal background check. However, employees will need to register in the MyVolunteer system and complete the Wake County Volunteer Agreement and other required forms.

Employees must select the “Current Staff of WCPSS” link on MyVolunteer to complete the volunteer registration process and must use their WCPSS email address to complete the registration.

Student Volunteers

Students aged 18 and over must complete the regular Community Volunteer Registration process in the MyVolunteer system.

Students under the age of 18 do not need to register in the MyVolunteer system. To volunteer, students under age 18 must submit all of the following information to volunteers@wcpss.net:

Student Volunteer/Participant Agreement & Parent Certification (to be completed by student and parent)
Student Volunteer/Participant Principal Recommendation Form (to be completed and turned in directly to volunteers@wcpss.net)
Student Volunteer/Participant Parent Consent Form (to be completed by the parent/guardian if student is under age 18)

Questions? Contact the District Volunteer Coordinator, Milton Battle, at volunteers@wcpss.net.

Returning Volunteers

Volunteer approvals are valid from July 1 through October 31 of the following school year. At the end of each school year, volunteers must reactivate their status by logging into their MyVolunteer account and updating any necessary information. If your child changes schools during the year, you do not need to reapply—you can simply update your school of choice in your account.

To renew, visit MyVolunteer Volunteer Renewal site before October 31. If you have any issues during the renewal process, contact the MyVolunteer customer support team at 877-272-0266 or customercare@mycrc.com.

Am I a Visitor or a Volunteer?

At school, adults who come into the building are usually either visitors or volunteers. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Visitors

Who counts as a visitor?
Parents/guardians, family members, and community members who come to school for specific events or programs.

Can visitors supervise students?
No. Visitors cannot be alone with students or supervise them.

Are visitors supervised?
Yes. Visitors must always be under the supervision of school staff.

Do visitors need a background check?
Visitors must check in at the school using our Visitor Management System, which includes a sex offender registry check.

Examples of visitor activities:

Attending a school play, concert, open house, or curriculum night
Going to a class party or book fair
Eating lunch with your child
Serving as a guest reader or guest speaker at a school event

Volunteers

Who counts as a volunteer?
Adults who help with school activities, events, or programs. Some help regularly, while others volunteer just once in a while.

Can volunteers supervise students?
Yes. Volunteers may work directly with students and can be alone with them.

Are volunteers supervised?
Not necessarily. Volunteers may work with or without school staff present.

Do volunteers need a background check?
Yes. All volunteers must pass a criminal background check—no matter how often or how long they plan to volunteer.

Examples of volunteer activities:

Tutoring students (in person or online)
Chaperoning field trips (including overnight trips)
Helping in the front office
Sponsoring a club
Serving as a room parent
Helping with field day
Proctoring tests
Reading regularly in classrooms
Assisting with PTA activities

👉 In short: If you’re just attending or visiting—you’re a visitor. If you’re helping, supervising, or working with students—you’re a volunteer (and you’ll need a background check).

Elementary

Middle School

High School

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