Volunteering and Visiting

Unsupervised volunteers are school volunteers required by Missouri state law to complete a fingerprint-based background check at IdentoGO with results sent to the CPS Human Resources Department prior to receiving a volunteer assignment. 

When completing the online background check application, it is very important that the information you enter on the background check application matches your government-issued identification card, including your full legal name. It is important that you provide a valid email address so you can be notified as to the status of your background check application and future communication. All information collected on the application will remain confidential and not be shared outside the volunteer program.

Supervised volunteers are school visitors and do not require a background check.

Anyone entering a CPS building must go trough the visitor entry screening process. To “Raptor into school,” all visitors or volunteers, use a government-issued ID to scan or manually enter information upon arrival at the school’s entrance during school hours.  The Raptor system will identify you, check your identity and print a badge for your visit.

How Volunteers Get Started

1. Contact your school or district about volunteer opportunities.
2. Determine if you are a visitor or a volunteer.  This is especially important if your volunteer role involves being an unsupervised volunteer alone with students in a supervisory capacity.Unsupervised volunteer roles [tutor, mentor, and chaperone] require a fingerprint-based background check application.
3. Initiate the online background check process through the Raptor Visitor & Volunteer Management System .  Complete the Volunteer Background Check Application in Raptor.
4. Upon completion of a background check application through Raptor, you will be linked to the HR's Enrollment form for Non-CPS Employees. 

   UPDATE (9/15/25): The HR’s Non-CPS Employee Enrollment Form is temporarily not working in Raptor..  form is available directly from HR's website and linked here: Enrollment Form for Non-Employee (while we wait for a fix) https://www.cpsk12.org/departments/hr/non-employee-background-information 

5. Create an account with Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS)
6. Schedule your fingerprint appointment using the CPS Human Resources (HR) provided code.  This code is provided at the end of the Enrollment form for Non-CPS Employees.
   Clearance to be a volunteer, alone with children, requires a fingerprint-based background check completed and paid for at IdentoGo .  Results are shared with Columbia Public Schools Human Resources Office from the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS)  . Fingerprints are good for three years.
7. You will be notified by email your cleared status and will be ready to begin your volunteer assignment with Columbia Public Schools.

If you have questions about the background check application process, please contact IdentoGO. If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact the district at volunteer@cpsk12.org. 

Background check Price

The estimated cost for the background check is $45. You may get one at the Columbia location, IdentoGO, 3302 Broadway Business Park Ct, Suite D, Columbia, MO 65203. For additional information about Non-Employee Background Checks, visit Human Resources.

Once you receive approval, prepare to make a positive impact!

Helpful Links

• Board of Education Policy GBEBC: Criminal Background Checks
• Board of Education Policy IICC: School Volunteers
• Volunteer Background Check: Non-Employee Registration
• Volunteer End of the Year Recognition
• Volunteer Hours Collection
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer Survey

Additional Information

Missouri law requires school volunteers who will be alone with students, unsupervised by CPS employees, to have criminal background checks that include fingerprints before volunteering and interacting with students.  Fingerprint records are submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a search of criminal history files and will come at a cost to the volunteer.  

Volunteering and visiting Columbia Public Schools procedures are updated when Missouri law changes. 
The district determines, by definition, if someone is visiting (under the supervision of a CPS employee) or volunteering (alone with students in a supervisory role).

Updating Information
The district may update all criminal background checks required under policy at least every three years if the person is still volunteering.

Defining Volunteers and Visitors

Volunteers:  Any individual who assists the district on an uncompensated basis and who is unsupervised by a CPS employee while with students. These individuals with a completed background check conducted by our Human Resources Office may volunteer to assist with student activities before or after school, and chaperone students on field trips.  

Visitors:  These individuals may be on school grounds to interact with their student(s), attend activities, school events, assemblies, or have lunch with students with a Columbia Public Schools employee present.  They may also be assisting the school with supervision by a CPS employee such as a room parent for classroom parties, assisting students in the classroom or media center, assisting the office with making copies or some other similar activity.  Visitors do not require a background check. School visits are coordinated with schools.

A few things to note about visiting CPS:

• Visitors are under the direction of the building principal. 
• Visitors and volunteers must sign in/out of school buildings. 

All visitors and volunteers shall act in accordance with district policies, regulations, and school rules. Volunteers and visitors are under the direction of the building principal. Volunteers and visitors may be asked to leave the campus if they violate school rules or district policies.  Volunteers shall maintain the same confidentiality standards expected of certificated personnel and exhibit the ethical behaviors of a professional. Volunteers shall not have access to confidential student files or records without a completed background check.  Volunteers will be covered under the district's liability insurance policy while performing services sponsored by the school or the district.

Volunteer program questions may be directed to the Office of Community Relations at Volunteer@cpsk12.org or (573)214-3960.

Thank you for your support of the community and Columbia Public Schools. Your contribution makes a difference!