MaST Schools Volunteer Clearance Process

Clearances Needed & Instructions:

Letter Detailing Volunteer Clearance Process

Quick Summary of Steps:

  • Click below to begin collecting each clearance. Clearance 1-3 are free for volunteers.
  • Clearance 4 has two options depending on if you’ve lived in PA for 10 consecutive years.
  • Once you have all clearance files, you will fill out the MaST Schools Volunteer Application and upload all of your documents in this portal.
  • After staff verifies your application is filled out and the clearances are attached, you will get an email confirming your file is complete.

Step 1: Obtain these Clearances:

1. Report of Criminal History from PA State Police (PSP)

  • Required for all volunteers
  • Go HERE to complete your PA Criminal Record Check online.
  • The report will be instantly available to you to print/save electronically.
  • There is no fee for volunteers requesting this clearance, but you can only get one free report every 5 years.

2. Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

  • Required for all volunteers
  • Go HERE to complete your PA Child Abuse History Clearance online.
  • The report will be mailed and emailed to you to print/save electronically. This is usually available within 48 hours of completing the request form, but it may take up to 14 days to process.
  • There is no fee for volunteers requesting this clearance, but you can only get one free report every 5 years.

3. Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form

  • Required for all volunteers
  • Complete the Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form found by click HERE

For Clearance #4, you need one or the other. You do not need both. Please read the options carefully.

4. MaST Schools Volunteer Affidavit

  • Volunteers do not need fingerprinting clearance if they have resided within Pennsylvania consecutively for the past 10 years, if they haven’t been convicted of anything on the list, AND swear and affirm in writing that they meet the criteria detailed on the affidavit.
  • Complete the MaST Schools Volunteer Affidavit found by clicking HERE.
  • Note: This form must be printed, signed, and submitted.  If you do not have a printer, please contact the front desk.

4. FBI Criminal History Record Check (Fingerprinting)

  • If you have not resided within Pennsylvania consecutively for the prior 10 years, you must submit an FBI Criminal History Record Check.
  • Applicant background checks cost approximately $25.
  • Step 1: Click HERE to register and schedule an appointment.  The service code to enter is: 1KG6ZJ 
  • Step 2: Go to a fingerprinting site (locations available on the website) to have your fingerprints submitted electronically.  You will receive a receipt that contains your UEID number. Save the receipt.
  • Step 3:  Submit a copy (or picture) of the receipt containing the UEID number as one of the required documents in the volunteer application.  The school will be able to generate the official report with the UEID number you provided.

Step 2: Complete & Upload Clearances to MaST Schools Volunteer Application Portal

FAQs:

If I intend to volunteer, where and when do I need to submit clearances to the school?

All MaST Schools prospective volunteers will need to complete a volunteer application.  As part of that application, prospective volunteers must submit the four completed clearances/certifications detailed above.  Once the application is completed and all four clearances are on-hand by the school, the prospective volunteer’s application will be reviewed by school staff and a determination will be made whether or not to approve the application.  If the application is approved, the applicant will receive an email notification that he/she has been approved. If the application is denied, a representative from the school will reach out to the applicant to notify him/her of the denial.  All staff members bringing in volunteers for whatever the reason are instructed to ensure that whoever they’re having come in to volunteer is on the school’s approved volunteer list at least 2 days in advance.  As such, if you do not have an approved application at least 2 days before the event, you will be unable to volunteer. Processing time to review all clearances in an application and approve it can take up to 3 days.  All told, between the 3 days processing time to review applications and the fact that staff can only permit people to volunteer if they’re on the approved list at least 2 days in advance of an event, prospective volunteers must ensure their completed application is submitted at least 5 days before the event.  The submittal of an application less than 5 days in advance may result in an inability to volunteer.  With that said, the earlier applications are completed, the better for both the school and the prospective volunteers.  Once an application is approved, that person will remain on the approved volunteer list (barring an infraction that merits removal from the list) until the clearances expire (more on this below) or if .  

How recent do the clearances that I submit need to be?

The clearances you submit need to be from within the last 60 months (5 years).  

How often must I update my clearances?

Clearances are valid for 60 months from the date listed on each clearance.  In situations where different clearances have different dates, a volunteer’s “approved” status expires when the oldest clearance expires.

Once I receive clearances, what do I do?

Complete the volunteer application and submit them accordingly in the application process as described above  Alternatively, clearances can be submitted at the front desk at the school in which you are looking to volunteer.

What happens if I am arrested for or convicted of an offense that would constitute grounds for denying further participation as a school volunteer after I submit my clearances?

If an approved volunteer is arrested for or convicted of an offense that would constitute grounds for denying participation in a program, activity or service, or is named as a perpetrator in a founded or indicated report, the volunteer must notify the school not later than 72 hours after the arrest, conviction or notification that the person has been listed as a perpetrator in the statewide database. Should this happen, the volunteer should email clearances@mastccs.org for MaST, clearances@mast2.org for MaST II, or clearances@mast3.org to notify the appropriate school.

Do I have to apply for each event I want to volunteer at?

No.  Once you are an approved volunteer, you remain on the approved volunteer list until your application expires.

How do I know when my clearances and approved volunteer status expire?

You will receive an automatically generated email (sent to the email address you put in the application) 60 days prior to the expiration of your approved volunteer status.  A second and final email will be sent 15 days prior to the expiration. You will be able to re-submit a new application with new clearances 60 prior to the expiration of your original application.

If I have questions about volunteering or completing the volunteer application, who do I contact?

Please reach out to the front desk or email clearances@mastccs.org for MaST, clearances@mast2.org for MaST II, or clearances@mast3.org for MaST III with any questions you might have.