Volunteer
Seven Generations Charter School relies upon the efforts of parent volunteers to enrich all aspects of our school community. We are constantly amazed at the things that can be accomplished by a group of dedicated volunteers, and we invite your energy, creativity, ideas and input!
There are a number of ways to get involved, including: joining a committee; assisting teachers in the classroom or on field trips; becoming a classroom coordinator; participating in monthly Saturday work days; staffing various events, or sharing an area of expertise or talent with the students. If you can contribute in any way, please contact either your child's teacher, a committee chairperson, or the school office.
Volunteer Clearance Policy
Volunteer clearances are NOT required for the following activities:
• Mystery readers
• Classroom presentations or parties
• Attendance at school events such as assemblies, meetings, performances, festivals, etc.
• Monthly weekend work days or work parties
• Participation on a committee
Volunteer clearances ARE required for parents, community members and others who volunteer on behalf of the school and may be alone with small groups of students or with an individual student in the capacity of supervision, guidance or control. Clearances are also required for anyone who volunteers on a routine basis or for visitors who will spend regular, extended time in the school. Examples include but are not limited to:
• Chaperoning field trips
• Working with a small group of students or with an individual student
• Working in the library
• Driving a team/group to an activity
• Participating in extracurricular events on-site and off-site
• College students observing or studying at the school
• Assisting in a classroom
How to Obtain Volunteer Clearances
The three clearances required by Pennsylvania state law are:
1) Pennsylvania State Background Check Clearance
2) Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
3) FBI Federal Criminal History Records
All three must be on file with the school. Parent clearances are accepted and considered valid when the date of the clearance is within one calendar year of the date of receipt by the Charter School. Anyone interested in obtaining these clearances should inquire at the front desk, call the office, or follow these steps:
1. If you would like to start volunteering while your clearances are being processed, you must sign an affidavit - available at the front desk - and show proof of request of the three clearance forms. The affidavit is acceptable only for the interim period that the clearances are in process.
2. Fill out the Pennsylvania State Police background check - PA State Police Background Check and print out your results. It will take about one minute for the results to be returned to you. If you choose to send your application in via mail, you must wait until you have received an approval confirmation form from the state before proceeding with the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Step 3).
3. Print out and complete the PA Child Abuse History Clearance form. Mail the form, along with a check for $10 and a printout of your processed Pennsylvania State Police background check (Step 2), to the address indicated on the form. Failure to include the background check form will add weeks to the processing time.
NOTE: Please check the box marked "Parent Volunteer" on all applicable forms, so the requisite clearances will be mailed directly to you.
4. Register online to begin the FBI Clearance Process (step-by-step instructions). This will require (online) payment of a $35.50 fee and fingerprinting at our local UPS Store #2756, 3440 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA, 18103. Click here to start the registration process.
*Please contact the Office Manager about school funds if covering the costs of clearances is a financial hardship for you or other family members.
View or print a copy of Seven Generation's official Volunteer Clearance Policy.
site design by
stetz designs