New Missouri School Volunteer Background Checks

Posted on 02/04/2020
School Volunteer Background Checks


A new Missouri law requires all school volunteers to have criminal background checks that now include fingerprints before volunteering and interacting with students. The fingerprint records are submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a search of criminal history files.

To comply with this new legislation, the Francis Howell School District has reviewed and updated our volunteer application process. Because of the added cost associated with fingerprinting as part of these new legal requirements, the District will no longer be able to pay for the background checks for school district volunteers. Currently, the fingerprint background check costs $41.75 and is good for six years. That cost is not determined by the District and is subject to change without notice.

All new District volunteers will be required to obtain the fingerprint background check after Feb. 18, 2020. All currently approved Francis Howell volunteers will need to submit fingerprints as part of the new background check before August 28, 2020, in order to volunteer during the 2020-21 school year. Unfortunately, FHSD cannot accept a background check from another organization.  

To provide additional clarification, the District defines a volunteer and visitor below:

Volunteers:  Any individual who assists the district on an uncompensated basis and may be periodically unsupervised while with students. These individuals may volunteer to regularly assist in the school office or library, mentor or tutor students, assist with student activities before or after school, and chaperone students on day field trips or overnight field trips.

Visitors:  Individuals that do not provide a service to the school or students. These individuals may be on school grounds to interact with their child(ren) or attend activities such as classroom parties, lunch with students, and assemblies. Visitors do not require a background check.

Volunteers are a vital part of the success of our students and our schools. Thank you to everyone who donates their time and talent to volunteer with the Francis Howell School District. 

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