Want to Chaperone a Daily or overnight Field Trip?

Overnight Field Trip Chaperones

Fingerprinting and background checks for volunteer chaperones are essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of all students participating in overnight field trips. These checks help school authorities identify any potential risks and verify that chaperones have a clean record regarding issues like criminal behavior or other disqualifying factors. The goal is to create a secure environment where students can learn and grow without concern. This process fosters trust among parents, guardians, and school staff, reassuring them that every chaperone has been thoroughly vetted and deemed suitable to supervise and care for children in an overnight setting. See our full Regulation 414-01, Field Trips.

  • Volunteers who are chaperoning a field trip during the day DO NOT need to be fingerprinted if they accompanying an FCPS staff member to supervise student. Daily field trip chaperones, must complete the standard volunteer training noted above for school volunteers.   
  • Volunteers who are chaperoning a field trip that is overnight OR where the volunteer has sole responsibility for the students absent the supervision of an FCPS staff member MUST be fingerprinted .

In order to qualify as an approved chaperone for an overnight field trip, please complete the following.

  1. Step 1: Take Volunteers in Schools training in Unified Talent - Follow these detailed directions (instrucciones detalladas en español) on how to create an account in Unified Talent and then how to complete the required training in either English or Spanish.
  2. Step 2: Register in Volunteer Registration Platform - Use the link provided in the volunteer training to register to the FCPS Volunteer Center. This link is also provided in follow up confirmation email the day after you complete your training.
  3. Step 3: Notification of Completion - You will receive an automated email that you have completed the volunteer registration process from the FCPS Volunteer Center. An approval notice of your application will be sent from Raptor and confirms your approved status for volunteer opportunities.
  4. Step 4:  Complete the Overnight Chaperone Form and return the form to the supervising FCPS field trip sponsor.
  5. Step 5:  The field trip sponsor/advisor will confirm that the chaperone has been selected to participate in the overnight field trip/activity.
  6. Step 6:  The FCPS field trip sponsor/advisor will obtain the principal’s signature for final approval prior to submission.
  7. Step 7:  This form must be completed and submitted to HREmployeeRelations@fcps.org  prior to the chaperone attending any overnight field trip activity.  
  8. Step 8:  Human Resources will contact the volunteer to schedule fingerprinting.  
  9. Step 9:  Results from fingerprinting will be provided to the chaperone and sending school. Please note, background checks are typically done within 7-10 days. Please allow enough time to complete the process prior to a scheduled field trip.

If there are any issues with the fingerprinting or background check, a member of the Human Resources team will contact the volunteer to discuss the results. If you have questions about the fingerprinting process please contact https://www.fcps.org/hr/contact