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Frequently Asked Questions

Overnight Field Trip Chaperones, Band Adjuncts and Good News Club Volunteers

Why do overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers need to be fingerprinted?

Overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers must be fingerprinted and pass a level II background check that is conducted via fingerprint submission to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) national database. This will give Volusia County Schools the ability to know definitively who is in direct contact with students.

How quickly can I be approved?

We recommend overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers apply at least one month prior to the field trip or providing services to a band program. Once the applicant completes the fingerprinting process, a determination should be made within 1-2 weeks.

What is the cost?**

The initial cost for year one is $41.25. For a fee of $6 annually, overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers can renew their approved status. This will pay for the fee the FDLE charges to retain fingerprints. If an overnight chaperone, band adjunct and/or Good News Club volunteer allows the approval to expire, but wishes to retain approved status, they must be re-fingerprinted and pay the initial cost of $41.25.

At the end of every five years, if the volunteer would like to continue as an approved overnight chaperone, band adjunct and/or Good News Club volunteer, the school district will digitally resubmit fingerprints to the FDLE for an updated national criminal history record search. The fee will be $11.25. Applicants will not need to be physically re-fingerprinted.

Summary of costs:

  • Year 1 $41.25
  • Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 $6 each year
  • Year 6 $11.25
  • Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 $6 each year

** Costs are subject to change and are based on fees charged by the FDLE.

I have a “security clearance” for my job. Can those fingerprints be utilized for this purpose?

No. The state of Florida does will not allow Volusia County Schools to access another agency’s employee fingerprints. 

What offenses will keep me from being approved?

See the eligibility statement for overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers. The same statute that disqualifies school district employees from being hired will be used (Chapter 1012, Section 315, Florida Statutes).

I have a previous arrest history that I do not want anyone to see. Who has access to the information that I provide to be fingerprinted?

The information we receive from the FBI is highly confidential and pursuant to Florida law it may only be shared with appropriate personnel relating to the volunteer process.

How many years is the approval valid?

Approvals for overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers are valid for one year and must be renewed prior to the expiration date annually. At the end of five years, fingerprints must be resubmitted for a check against the national criminal history database.

How will I know when to renew?

Approved overnight chaperones, band adjuncts and/or Good News Club volunteers will be notified via the email account associated with their volunteer application at least 30 days prior to expiration. Fingerprinting only needs to be done once, unless the approved status has expired. If the overnight chaperone/band adjunct/Good News Club volunteer allows the approval to expire and wants to continue as an approved overnight chaperone/band adjunct/Good News Club volunteer, the applicant will need to be re-fingerprinted and pay the initial cost of $41.25.

How can I find out if my background clearance is still valid?

You can check your volunteer status through your school’s volunteer coordinator or the VIPS district office. Each school has a volunteer coordinator who can check the district’s visitor/volunteer management system and determine if your overnight chaperone/band adjunct/Good News Club volunteer background clearance is still valid. If your status has expired, you will need to be re-fingerprinted.