Volunteers and Partners in APS

To ensure student safety, all non-employee workers must be screened and badged by the Security Office before working or visiting in our buildings, regardless of prior external organizational screening.

A volunteer helping an APS student

Overview & Program Definitions

Volunteers

Individuals approved by a school or site to assist without compensation.

Chaperones

Individuals assisting with overnight, school-sponsored student trips. Note: Chaperones are considered volunteers and must strictly follow this screening process.

APS Partners

Individuals from community organizations providing before/after school daycare, tutoring, mentoring, coaching, etc.

AFS Workers (Exclusion)

Individuals working under an Agreement for Services (AFS) are paid by APS and are excluded from this Non-Employee Worker Program. They must follow standard APS employee onboarding.

Application & Background Submission Step-by-Step

Volunteer or Partner Must Do this Part: Screening and filling out this application is required every year.

  • Secure Application Link

    Complete the online Secure Application Link. This link will be provided by the school office.

  • Sterling Volunteer Registration

    Create an account and request a background check directly from the Sterling Volunteers website. Within the application process, you will receive a link and an access code. You must use that link to initiate and submit your background check process.

  • Upload Photos

    Upload your photos following these strict rules:

    • No pictures of pictures are allowed.
    • No pictures with filters are allowed.
    • We cannot accept the picture on the ID.
  • Confirmation & "Good Deed Code"

    After completing the application form, you will receive an email confirming submission. The "good deed code" to use in order for Aurora Public Schools to pay the background check is listed under the job description within the application.

Important: Please know that nothing happens for any applicant until an approval form is submitted by the school.

Step-by-Step Procedures for Staff

Your primary responsibility is simple: Identify the correct category and provide the appropriate application link. Human Resources and/or Security will handle the backend processing.

School / Department Responsibility
  • Step 1 & 2: Identify and Categorize the Worker. The school or support site contact person confirms the operational need for the applicant and determines their correct role (Volunteer, Chaperone, or Partner).
  • Step 3: Share the Secure Application Link. The contact person provides the applicant with the secure link to apply for a Volunteer or Partner application.
  • Step 4: Complete Approval Form. Once the applicant notifies the site they have submitted their online application, uploaded photos, and completed the background check, the school/site contact must complete the electronic Volunteer/Partner Approval Form.
Reminder: Nothing happens for any applicant until an approval form is submitted.
Badge Issuance & Security
  • Approval of Application Process: The Security Office reviews the application, verifies the completeness of the background check results, and cross-references the school's electronic Approval Form.
  • Badge Creation: Upon clearance, the ID badge is created and printed.
  • Distribution: Badges will be delivered by APS CSOs to the requesting APS school or site.
  • Individual Begins Assignment: Once the school or site physically receives the badge, the approved individual is cleared to wear it and officially begin their assignment with Aurora Public Schools.