As a volunteer, you provide our diverse student population with greater opportunities to have individualized attention, a measure that can be critical to their academic success. With you, we do more.

As an approved volunteer, you are a role model for students. You serve at the discretion of the local school and are expected to operate within the boundaries of the school board policy.  Our goal is that you find your volunteer experience rewarding. We are counting on you to become an advocate for schools by sharing your positive experiences and encouraging others to become involved.

If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact the school or site where you desire to volunteer.   

To learn more, please click here to review our Volunteer Handbook

How May I Qualify To Volunteer? - Be sure to read the following before submitting an application to Volunteer:

PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST FIRST CONTACT THE SCHOOL OR DEPARTMENT AND REQUEST THEIR APPROVAL TO VOLUNTEER:  For a volunteer application to move forward, the school (or department you intend to volunteer with) must submit their approval by adding your request to their respective “Volunteer List”.  If an application is completed and the volunteer application name is not found on the requested School/Department “Volunteer List”, this will result in being denied.

Eligibility Statement for Volunteers

The following aligns with MCSD Policy 9200-Volunteers:

All applicants seeking approval to volunteer alone with students on campus, field trips, sporting events or any overnight trips, are subject to a criminal history background check or level 2 screening.  In Florida, the entire arrest record (whether as a juvenile or adult) is revealed to school districts, including sealed and/or expunged records and military court proceedings.  An applicant whose background check reveals prior criminal arrests or convictions may or may not be disqualified to serve as a volunteer with the Monroe County School District.

Applicants will be screened for offenses committed as a juvenile or adult, in Florida or out-of-state, for which the applicant was arrested for and awaiting final disposition of, found guilty of (regardless of adjudication), entered a plea of nolo contendere (‘no contest’) or guilty, or entered a pre-trial diversion program, drug court, or an equivalent deferred prosecution program. Note: DUI and reckless driving are criminal offenses.

When criminal charges appear in an applicant’s background, the District will evaluate the applicant for volunteer eligibility on a case-by-case basis. The district may require specific documents to best clarify any record(s). The applicant has the burden of providing court documents and providing a written, personal statement explaining all circumstances surrounding any criminal incident. The District reserves the right to reject any applicant from serving as a volunteer based on their specific criminal history.  

The criminal offenses listed below will render applicants ineligible for volunteering with the Monroe County School District.  Determinations are based upon the commission of certain disqualifying criminal offenses consistent with Florida Statutes governing employment and/or established district policies and guidelines.

You will not be eligible to volunteer for the Monroe County School District if the school or department does not submit your volunteer application name to their approved Volunteer List, and/or you have been convicted of any of the following Felony Offenses, regardless of when it was committed:

• Section 393.135, relating to sexual misconduct with certain developmentally disabled clients and reporting of such sexual misconduct.
• Section 394.4593, relating to sexual misconduct with certain mental health patients and reporting of such sexual misconduct.
• Section 415.111, relating to adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation of aged persons or disabled adults.
• Section 782.04, relating to murder.
• Section 782.07, relating to manslaughter, aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or disabled adult, aggravated manslaughter of a child, or aggravated manslaughter of an officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, or a paramedic.   
• Section 784.021, relating to aggravated assault.
• Section 784.045, relating to aggravated battery.
• Section 784.075, relating to battery on a detention or commitment facility staff member or a juvenile probation officer.
• Section 787.01, relating to kidnapping.
• Section 787.02, relating to false imprisonment.
• Section 787.025, relating to luring or enticing a child.
• Section 787.04(2), relating to leading, taking, enticing, or removing a minor beyond the state limits, or concealing the location of a minor, with criminal intent pending custody proceedings.
• Section 787.04(3), relating to leading, taking, enticing, or removing a minor beyond the state limits, or concealing the location of a minor, with criminal intent pending dependency proceedings or proceedings concerning alleged abuse or neglect of a minor.
• Section 790.115(1), relating to exhibiting firearms or weapons at a school-sponsored event, on school property, or within 1,000 feet of a school.
• Section 790.115(2)(b), relating to possessing an electric weapon or device, destructive device, or other weapon at a school-sponsored event or on school property.
• Section 794.011, relating to sexual battery.
• Former s. 794.041, relating to sexual activity with or solicitation of a child by a person in familial or custodial authority.
• Section 794.05, relating to unlawful sexual activity with certain minors.
• Section 794.08, relating to female genital mutilation.
• Chapter 796, relating to prostitution.
• Chapter 800, relating to lewdness and indecent exposure.
• Section 800.101, relating to offenses against students by authority figures.
• Section 806.01, relating to arson.
• Section 810.14, relating to voyeurism.
• Section 810.145, relating to video voyeurism.
• Section 812.014(6), relating to coordinating the commission of theft in excess of $3,000.
• Section 812.0145, relating to theft from persons 65 years of age or older.
• Section 812.019, relating to dealing in stolen property.
• Section 812.13, relating to robbery.
• Section 812.131, relating to robbery by sudden snatching.
• Section 812.133, relating to carjacking.
• Section 812.135, relating to home-invasion robbery.
• Section 817.563, relating to fraudulent sale of controlled substances.
• Section 825.102, relating to abuse, aggravated abuse, or neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult.
• Section 825.103, relating to exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
• Section 825.1025, relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of an elderly person or disabled person.
• Section 826.04, relating to incest.
• Section 827.03, relating to child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or neglect of a child.
• Section 827.04, relating to contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child.
• Section 827.071, relating to sexual performance by a child.
• Section 843.01, relating to resisting arrest with violence.
• Chapter 847, relating to obscenity.
• Section 874.05, relating to causing, encouraging, soliciting, or recruiting another to join a criminal street gang.
• Chapter 893, relating to drug abuse prevention and control, if the offense was a felony of the second degree or greater severity.
• Section 916.1075, relating to sexual misconduct with certain forensic clients and reporting of such sexual misconduct.
• Section 944.47, relating to introduction, removal, or possession of contraband at a correctional facility.
• Section 985.701, relating to sexual misconduct in juvenile justice programs.
• Section 985.711, relating to introduction, removal, or possession of contraband at a juvenile detention facility or commitment program.

You will not be eligible to volunteer for the Monroe County School District if the school or department does not submit your volunteer application name to their approved Volunteer List, and/or if you have been convicted of any Misdemeanor Offenses prohibited under any of the following statutes:

• Section 784.03, relating to battery, if the victim of the offense was a minor.
• Section 787.025, relating to luring or enticing a child.

You may be considered by the school Principal to serve as a volunteer:

• If the Offense is More Than Five Years Old:
  • Drug or Paraphernalia Possession (3rd Degree Felony or Less).
  • Resisting Officer without Violence.
• Misdemeanor Offenses Not Listed Above.
• Felony Offenses Not Listed Above (where all sentences, including probation, have been fully and successfully completed at least 7 years prior to the application.
• The school or department submits your volunteer application name to their approved Volunteer List.

This is based on Florida statute, district policy and/or district guidelines and does not necessarily constitute a complete list of all criminal offenses or circumstances affecting a decision to approve a volunteer.

Before creating your volunteer application, please read the "Would I qualify to Volunteer?" statement above and review the background check information.  You may be required to upload these forms to your application.  You must also request the school/department to submit your volunteer application name to their approved Volunteer List.  New Volunteers: Volunteer Application