Clearance Information for School Volunteers
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Thank you for taking the time to volunteer with the Southern Lehigh SD! Your contribution is sincerely appreciated by our staff, other parents, and Southern Lehigh SD community members. Per ACT 82 of 2012, volunteers must submit certain clearances for the general welfare of our students. Before you continue on this page, it is important that you clarify whether you qualify as a volunteer or a staff member.
A volunteer is (1) unpaid, (2) responsible for the direct supervision of children, and (3) engages in a district-sponsored activity. For instance, a community member who assists with costume design for the fall theater performance pro bono is considered a volunteer because s/he is (a) unpaid; (b) may be responsible for the direct supervision of children, especially when district staff are not present; and (3) is supporting this district-sponsored activity potentially over a sustained period. However, if the district compensates the community member for this activity, s/he would be considered a paid employee and should follow the instructions for paid employees by clicking on the Directions for Employees, Coaches, and Ancillary Workers link in the left-hand column. Those who are not (a) responsible for the direct supervision of children and/or (b) engaging in a district-sponsored activity do not need to submit clearances. For instance, a community member invited to participate in a student activity while one or more staff members are present does not need clearances to participate in this event. If you have any questions about your status, please email our office (hr@slsd.org). The Pennsylvania Department of Education has also created a School Volunteers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) website, which you can access by clicking HERE.
Please note that if you intend to volunteer for an event or field trip, you submit your clearances at least one week prior to the event. Our office needs this period to review your clearances and confirm your eligibility with the school principal and/or field trip organizer(s). Lastly, we recognize your contribution adds value to our community, so we have simplified obtaining clearances at little or no cost. Please click on each clearance for directions on obtaining the said clearance.
Because some of these clearances are provided directly to the requesting party, you will need to come to our office to provide these documents. Accordingly, please make a note of the following information:- To provide orderly and efficient service, our office will only accept clearances TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS (walk-in). If these days do not work, you may make an appointment for another day by emailing our office (hr@slsd.org), especially if we are closed on a Tuesday or Thursday due to a holiday, inclement weather, or are engaged in meetings.
- Note that on walk-in days (Tuesdays and Thursdays), we are available to assist with clearances between 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m. (EST/EDT). We are also located at 5775 Main Street, Center Valley, PA 18034.
- All required paperwork must be submitted together; we cannot accept partial packets or piecemeal clearances (e.g., one clearance per visit).
Note that any individual who is new to Southern Lehigh SD must submit clearances dated within 12 months of issue. We can accept clearances from other educational organizations in which you were employed only if they were issued in the past calendar year but we cannot, under any circumstances, accept clearances if they are from organizations in which you were not formally employed.
Individuals who have a history of engagement with the Southern Lehigh SD must re-submit clearances every 60 months from the date of issue. Under ACT 82 of 2012, individuals who fail to resubmit new and timely clearances risks disciplinary action up to and including termination. Please note that our office does not send reminder notices.
Lastly, we strongly recommend that you keep your submitted clearances in a safe place for future reference. The district may not be able to supply copies, especially if your clearances have expired.
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Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance
Also known as ACT 151 of 1994, the DHS Child Abuse History Clearance is the first of two required clearances for all volunteers. To obtain this clearance, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Welfare Portal by clicking HERE. Please note that if it is your first time visiting the site, you will be asked to create a Keystone ID username and follow the instructions to create a password. Be sure to store your Keystone ID and password in a safe place for future use.
Once on the website, you will need to provide your current home address and check VOLUNTEER as the purpose of your inquiry. Note that there is NO FEE to obtain this clearance for volunteers.
Once successfully submitted, you will receive an email notification with a link to view your clearance. Please print and save your results as an Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) file. You will need to submit your results to the Office of Human Resources. Results are not automatically sent to the Southern Lehigh SD.
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Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
Also known as ACT 34 of 1985, the Pennsylvania State Criminal Record Check is the second of the two required clearances for all volunteers. To obtain this clearance, please visit the Pennsylvania State Police Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website by clicking HERE.
Once on the website, you will need to provide your current home address and check NEW VOLUNTEER RECORD CHECK as the purpose of your inquiry; you will need to name the Southern Lehigh SD as the organization for which you intend to volunteer. (If promoted, you may provide the district's main number, which is 610.282.3121) Note that there is NO FEE to obtain this clearance for volunteers.
Once you have obtained your clearance, please print and save your results as an Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) file. Be aware that this report will be viewable to you only one time. You will need to submit your results to the Office of Human Resources. Results are not automatically sent to the Southern Lehigh SD.
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Federal Criminal History Record Information
Also known as ACT 114 of 2006, the FBI Criminal History Record Investigation (CHRI) is only required for those volunteers who have not lived continuously in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the last 10 calendar years. Individuals who have resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 10 or more consecutive calendar years may sign the alternate Disclosure Statement, which can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
However, if you need to obtain this clearance, please visit navigate to IdentoGO, which is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to perform fingerprinting services to obtain this clearance. You can visit the agency's website by clicking HERE.
Once on the website, please use the specific agency Service Code 1KG6ZJ and select the purpose as VOLUNTEER. Although you will have the option to either schedule an appointment or opt for walk-in service, all applicants are required to pre-enroll online or over the phone. Note that there is a fee of $22.95 to obtain this clearance. This cost is assumed by the volunteer and is not reimbursed by the Southern Lehigh SD. Additionally, please be aware of the following when completing your application:
- Reports processed for any other purpose other than VOLUNTEER are not valid.
- If you make a mistake, select the “Back to Home” button and begin the process again. If you do not use the above Service Code, you will need to pay for a new background check.
- Record your UE ID registration number (a series of letters and numbers). You will need to provide this to the school district for verification purposes.
Once successfully submitted, you will need to report to an authorized fingerprinting center; you can find a location near you by searching the IdentoGo website. Once your results are available, you will receive an email notification with a link to view your clearance. Please print and save your results as an Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) file. You will need to submit your results to the Office of Human Resources. Results are not automatically sent to the Southern Lehigh SD.
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Arrest/ Conviction Report and Certification Form
Also known as ACT 24 of 2011, the Arrest/ Conviction Report and Certification Form is required of any Southern Lehigh SD (paid) employee and (unpaid) volunteer. Unlike any of the clearances above, this is a self-reporting form; there is no need to provide this information to another party other than the Southern Lehigh SD. You can download a copy of the Arrest/ Conviction Report and Certification Form by clicking HERE.
To ensure correct and timely processing of the Form, you must complete the Form at the time of hire and within 72 hours of any arrest or conviction of a Reportable Offense as listed in 24 P.S. Education § 1-111(e), which you can view by clicking HERE. State law declares that willful failure to report any such arrest or conviction timely can result in termination of employment. Accordingly, you can not begin (or continue) your service with the Southern Lehigh SD without receiving this Form.
