Volunteer & Visitor Procedures

Volunteer Procedure

Thank you for your interest in volunteering in District 47! Volunteers assist our schools in a variety of ways and positively impact the educational experience of our students. For the health and safety of our staff and students, volunteers are required to complete a brief online application each school year. The application process includes a background check conducted by Raptor.

Click HERE for the volunteer application

Haga clic AQUI para la solicitud de voluntariado

Note: All District 47 visitors and volunteers (including those who’ve had their ID scanned in Raptor) will be required to bring their drivers license or state ID when visiting a school building. In addition, individuals will be required to leave their ID with the main office in exchange for a visitor lanyard. When leaving the building, visitors must return to the main office to drop off their lanyard and pick up their ID.

See below for Raptor instructions and FAQs!

Visitor Procedure

District 47 welcomes parents, families, and community members to our schools. Visitors must identify themselves before being allowed to enter the building and present a drivers license or state ID upon entry. The ID is used to run a background check through a visitor management system called Raptor.

Both visitors and volunteers are required to leave their ID in the main office each time they visit and wear a lanyard at all times while in the building. When leaving the building, visitors/volunteers should return to the main office to drop off their lanyard and pick up their ID. This added layer of security ensures that lanyards are kept in the building and do not get circulated in the community and also ensures everyone in the building is accounted for in the case of an emergency. Other security measures include:

Secured and limited points of entry
Security cameras with an intercom system connected to the school's main office
Video surveillance in middle schools and on school buses
Full-time deans at middle schools
Required visible ID for all employees, substitutes, visitors/volunteers and contractors
Keyless access to buildings

For more information, see board policies below.

Raptor Application Instructions
Raptor Frequently Asked Questions

Raptor Application Instructions

Step 1

Thank you for your interest in being a volunteer. Our volunteers help to make all of our programs and supports available for our students and we appreciate them greatly. This tutorial will walk you through the screens of the volunteer application process. The process should only take about 5-10 minutes and the applications are typically processed within 1 or 2 days.

You can access the application link from the district website under the Parents tab. Volunteer appears at the bottom of the menu. Click on volunteer to be taken to the Raptor welcome screen. Once you have read the information on the screen, please click on the “Next” button in the bottom right of the screen.

Step 2

The second screen is where you will add your personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.). Once you have completed this page, click “next” in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

A pop-up window will appear requiring you to confirm your name, date of birth, and email. Once you have reviewed the information, click the blue confirm button to continue.

Step 3

The third screen is where you will select the school or schools that you wish to volunteer at within the district.

Once you have clicked on the desired schools, click on “Next” in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Step 4

The fourth screen shows all of the volunteer opportunities available at the school. Select all that are of interest to you and click on “Next” in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Step 5

The fifth screen allows volunteers to let us know which organization they are representing. If you are a parent volunteer not associated with an organization, select “none.” Once you are done, click on “Next” in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Step 6

The sixth page is the disclaimer page. This page asks for your Social Security Number in order to run a background check. Your social security number will not be saved or used for any other reason than the background check. After entering your social security number, please read and sign and then click “Next” in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

A pop-up window will appear after clicking "Next", requiring you to confirm that you are not a robot. Once you click on the box you will be immediately taken to the next screen. This is the final screen of the process, which thanks you for applying. Click “Finish” in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. At this point the background checks will take place and within 1 to 2 days you will hear about your application status.

Raptor Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a visitor and a volunteer?

A visitor is an individual who occasionally visits a District 47 school, perhaps for a classroom celebration, student presentation or other special event. A volunteer is an individual who supports a District 47 school in a variety of ways on a consistent basis. Such examples include mentoring, PTO/PTA volunteer, field trip chaperone, etc.

Do I need to present identification every time I visit a D47 school?

Yes. All District 47 visitors and volunteers (including those who’ve had their ID scanned in Raptor) will be required to bring their drivers license or state ID each and every time when visiting a school building. In addition, individuals will be required to leave their ID with the main office in exchange for a visitor lanyard. When leaving the building, visitors must return to the main office to drop off their lanyard and pick up their ID. The visitor management process will be in force during the school day only; IDs will not be scanned during after-school or evening events.

What does a visitor background check consist of?

When visiting a school, Raptor collects an individual’s name, date of birth, and photo and compares this information against a national database of registered sex offenders.

What if I don’t have a U.S.-issued government ID?

Raptor accepts non-U.S. government-issued identification cards, including Mexican consulate cards.

Where do I find the volunteer application?

Application in English aplicación en español

What does a volunteer background check consist of?

The free Raptor background screening verifies an individual’s identity and also checks for criminal, terrorist and sex offender status. The application will ask for an individual’s first name, last name, date of birth and social security number. If you do not have a social security number or do not wish to provide it, please contact the school office for assistance.

Do I need to use my legal name on the volunteer application?

Yes. The application will trigger a background check. If the name on the application does not match the legal name on file, the application could be denied.

What if I don’t have or don’t want to provide a social security number (SSN) on the volunteer application?

If you don’t have or don’t want to provide your social security number on the application, you will need to come to the school office so an administrative assistant can fill out the application on your behalf.

How long does it take to process a volunteer application?

The volunteer application process typically takes 24-48 hours.

Do I need to fill out a volunteer application for each school I want to volunteer at?

No. You will submit a volunteer application only once. The application will prompt you to indicate at which schools you wish to volunteer. Once you are approved, you will be able to volunteer at each school indicated.

How will I know if my volunteer application has been approved?

Once your application and background check has been approved, you will be notified by email. Please check your spam or junk folder if you don’t receive it.

How will I know when my volunteer application is going to expire?

You will receive an email 30 days before your volunteer application expires. At this time, you will have an opportunity to update your volunteer status.

Will I be denied a volunteer opportunity if I have not yet filled out an application?

If a volunteer application has not been filled out or confirmation has not yet been received, you will not be able to volunteer. Parents are encouraged to get their IDs scanned and submit a volunteer application as soon as possible so they are in good standing prior to their volunteer opportunity.

Will I need to fill out a volunteer application every year?

Yes. As things can change over the course of a year, an application and background check are required to ensure the safety of students.

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