volunteers

Volunteer Procedures

Background check and fingerprinting procedures for volunteers

Volunteer Opportunities!

Learn about ways to volunteer with us!

FCPS Background Checks

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is fortunate to have individuals, groups, and organizations who contribute time and energy to students as volunteers. Because student safety is of utmost importance, FCPS requires volunteers who meet with students on a frequent and regular basis to have a background check. 

FCPS covers the fees for background checks for volunteers and mentors. 

FCPS Fingerprinting Process

  • To start a request, FCPS personnel must submit one HR-3 form per volunteer using a centralized email address.  The volunteer is welcome to ask FCPS personnel to do so, but the process MUST be initiated by an FCPS staff member.
  • Once the HR-3 form has been processed, each volunteer will receive a series of emails containing the links to 2 online portals
    • Portal 1:  Online profile and questions related to previous court involvement
    • Portal 2:  Onboarding (background check forms)
  • Upon completion of the onboarding process, volunteers will receive an automated email to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.
  • This email will also define current operating procedures for fingerprinting to include any measures that might be in place to protect your health

FCPS Background Check (Regulation 4119)

  • FCPS regulations preclude anyone with a felony conviction from volunteering in the schools.
  • Misdemeanor charges are evaluated based on the nature of the offense, the age of the person at the time of the offense, and the amount of time between the date of the offense and the date of application.
  • Active-duty (sworn) law enforcement personnel are exempt from the background check

Address

Gatehouse Administration Center
Department of Human Resources, Welcome Center (1st floor lobby)
8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, VA 22042

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Please park in a designated visitor parking space in front of the building or anywhere in the underground parking garage. The parking garage is free and is accessible from Gatehouse Road.
  • Once parked, visit the Welcome Desk on the first floor and tell them you are there for fingerprinting. 

  • Yes, parking at the FCPS Gatehouse Center is free, below the building. 

  • At the time of your fingerprinting, you’ll be asked to complete some additional forms. Be careful and honest when completing all forms.  If you have anything on your personal record, it is necessary to include it in the agreement. An incomplete form may disqualify you from volunteering in FCPS.
  • A prior felony offense of any kind will disqualify you from volunteering for FCPS.

  • Volunteer badges expire each school year on June 30 and must be renewed annually. 
  • It is the school’s responsibility to renew badges for returning volunteers. 
  • School contacts are to communicate with volunteers or groups of volunteers and create a list of returning volunteers.  After receiving a list of returning volunteers, the school contact shall: 
    • Ensure that the “legal name” submitted matches the one on the existing badge.
    • Send the list of returning volunteers to FCPS StaffConnect.
    • Receive the badges from FCPS Human Resources and distribute them to the returning volunteers.

If a badge lapses for one full school year, the volunteer will have to be fingerprinted again before they can enter a school as a volunteer.

Employees, Applicants, and Retirees

Submit questions or concerns, as well as upload forms and other documents through the FCPS StaffConnect portal. Human Resources representatives are also available for assistance Monday – Friday (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) by calling 571-423-3000 or 1-800-831-4331.

FCPS StaffConnect

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Volunteer Process

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Background Checks and Fingerprinting for Volunteers and Mentors

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FCPS Welcome Center

Welcome to FCPS! Our Welcome Center, provides a wide variety of assistance to help answer inquiries of the general public, current and new employees, and other stakeholders. We look forward to assisting you!