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Volunteer Programs

Volunteer activities offer parents and community members opportunities to engage with their local schools and support student learning. These experiences are mutually rewarding to students, parents, partners, and schools.

We offer two different levels of volunteer involvement and commitment, Level I and Level II.

All prospective volunteers must register with Family and Community Engagement (FACE) by completing the required CPS volunteer application forms and satisfying the requirements of the applicant review process.

Returning Volunteers

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Log In - Spanish

Volunteer Coordinators

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Levels of Volunteer Involvement

Level I

Level I is the highest level of volunteering. As part of the application process, you will receive an email asking you to complete a background check, submit TB test results that are less than two years old, and complete the mandatory training online. CPS will cover the cost of the background check, which can take up to 30 business days to clear. CPS does not cover the cost of the TB test.

Examples of Level I Volunteer Activities

  • Overnight field trip chaperones
  • Mentors
  • Tutors
  • Coaches
  • Non-supervised classroom assistants
  • Non-supervised day field trip chaperones (taking a group of students away from the line of sight of CPS employees)

Level II

Level II is the basic volunteer level. Level II volunteers must remain within the line of sight of a full-time employee at all times and cannot exceed the number of hours allowed per week. Prospective volunteers are checked through a registry name check and cleared within 72 hours of the school’s approval.

Examples of Level II Volunteer Activities

  • Supervised day field trip chaperones (must be within the line of sight of a CPS employee at all times)
  • Assistants in schools with administrative duties
  • Other volunteer activities in contact with students while supervise

Volunteer approval is valid for one school year. Volunteers who plan to return for the following school year must log in to their volunteer online account as a returning volunteer on or after July 1 to renew their application.

Charter, Contract & Options Schools’ Volunteers

Our department only processes Level II Charter, Contract, and Options school applications. For more information on the Level I process, please contact your school directly.

Volunteer Program FAQ

Need Help?

For questions about your application, email volunteer@cps.edu or call 773-553-1544.