Volunteer Clearances

Act 153 of 2014 went into effect January 1, 2015. This law will have a direct impact on paid employees working with children and unpaid volunteers in Pennsylvania. This law requires that every person responsible for the welfare of youth obtain and keep on file, comprehensive and regularly updated criminal and child abuse background checks. This new PA law is applicable to any person “responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children.” The Child Protective Services Law defines “direct contact with children” as “the care, supervision, guidance, or control of children or routine interaction with children.” This means that any parent or guardian volunteering for the PTO that involves contact with children, must obtain these clearances.

The Council Rock School District has posted a detailed list of forms needed and the process by which to complete the process so you can volunteer in your child’s classroom. These clearances MUST be completed prior to volunteering in ANY capacity during school hours. The front office keeps a record of cleared volunteers and will turn away those attempting to enter the school without their completed clearances.

The ONLY exceptions to this policy are those volunteering for the Mystery Reader program and those wishing to have lunch with their child on their birthday.

The following information was taken from the CRSD HUMAN RESOURCES website (CLICK HERE FOR PAGE)

Who is required to obtain Clearances?

All volunteers are required to obtain clearances. “Volunteer” is defined as an adult in an unpaid volunteer position who is responsible for the welfare of a child or who has direct contact with children. Direct contact shall mean care, supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children. Any adult who is individually responsible for the children’s welfare, directly caring for, supervising, guiding or controlling the children are required to obtain clearances. Any volunteer who is present and working with students one or more times per week will be presumed to be a volunteer and must obtain clearances.

All new volunteers must obtain clearances. All clearances must be dated less than one year at the time of joining our district's volunteer team. Thereafter, all clearances must be renewed every 60 months.

Required Clearances:

Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Report: https://epatch.pa.gov/home

Click the control number to view your results. Click the "Certification Form" link in the center of the page to view, save and print your official Pa State Police Certificate.

Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home

Click "Create Individual Account". The Keystone Key is a user name you create. Follow the site's step-by-step instructions for creating a password. Be sure to keep a record of your Keystone Key and Password as you will need them to access your results. You will receive an email from the site when your results are available, within 14 days of submission.

Federal Criminal History (2 Options):

If you have been a Pennsylvania resident for less than 10 consecutive years, you must complete the fingerprinting process. Enroll at IdentoGo and make an appointment for digital fingerprinting at a location of your choice. The Service Code for VOLUNTEERS is 1KG6ZJ.

If you have been a Pennsylvania resident for the past 10 consecutive years, you may submit the CR Volunteer Affidavit in place of fingerprinting. The affidavit must be notarized and the original affidavit is kept on file in the Human Resources Office.

How do I submit my volunteer paperwork? Volunteer paperwork (with the exception of the TB Test, and notarized Volunteer Affidavit) must be submitted online through the Volunteer posting by following this link. Complete the online application and upload your clearances to the appropriate page. Please upload a copy of your notarized Volunteer Affidavit and, either hand deliver or mail the original document. You may upload a copy your Volunteer Affidavit but we must receive the original. If you require a TB test, you can add a copy of the results with your Volunteer Affidavit and/or Volunteer Fingerprints and then send us the original results.

I’ve lived in Pennsylvania over 10 years and completed the Volunteer Affidavit; can I just upload the form to the Volunteer application? No. Because the Volunteer Affidavit must be notarized. Please upload a PDF of the notarized document; then either drop off or mail your original notarized affidavit to the address listed below. We are required to keep the original document on file in our office.

If mailing your original, notarized Volunteer Affidavit and/or TB Test, please send to:

Monica McLaughlin, Council Rock School District, Human Resources Office
30 North Chancellor Street, Newtown, PA 18940

Council Rock contact information: Monica McLaughlin mmclaughlin@crsd.org 215-944-1000