Obtaining Clearances
The process for obtaining background clearance documents may be initiated online. The following instructions, together with the embedded links, will assist you in beginning the process of obtaining your clearances. Once you have obtained your clearances, you must fill out the Volunteer Application and upload your clearance documents into the Raptor® Volunteer Management System.
Three documents are required:
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification
- Pennsylvania Criminal History Background Check
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Background Check OR FBI Disclosure Statement/Affirmation
- If you have lived in Pennsylvania for at least the last 10 consecutive years, click here to open the Disclosure Statement
OR
- If you have NOT lived in Pennsylvania for at least the last 10 consecutive years, click here. Where required, enter the PDE Service Code: 1KG6Y3
Once you have obtained all of your clearances you must complete the online Volunteer Application and upload those forms in the Raptor® Volunteer Management System. You will be notified once your application has been approved.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Office of School and Community Relations at 610-645-1977.
Additional Clearance Information
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification
The Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance can be completed online for the quickest results. Once you click the link you will be directed to the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Portal where you must create an account or log in if you already have an account. (Note: you will need an email address to create an account.) Click here to submit the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance application. There is no fee for this clearance. - Pennsylvania Criminal History Background Check
The Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check can be done either online or by mail. The online results are available right away. If you choose to mail the form, it could take up to 8 weeks for the results to be returned to you. To complete the process online, click here and then click on "New Record Check (Volunteers Only)" and follow the instructions. In the "Volunteer Organization Name" box, put Lower Merion School District. In the Volunteer Organization Telephone Number box, put 610-645-1800. At the end of the process, you will need to print two copies of the certification form. You must click on "certification form" in order to pull up the correct form to print. Please keep a copy of your Criminal Record Check for your personal records. There is no fee for this clearance. - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Background Check OR Lower Merion School District Volunteer Affirmation
- Disclosure Statement: The FBI Criminal Background Check is not required if a Tier I Volunteer has been a resident of Pennsylvania for the entirety of the previous ten-year period and swears or affirms by properly executing a Lower Merion School District Volunteer Affirmation that he or she is not disqualified from service and has not been convicted of a prohibited offense listed in existing law or a similar offense in another jurisdiction. Please click here to view the Disclosure Statement.
- FBI Check: The Pennsylvania Department of Education utilizes IdentoGo to process fingerprint-based FBI criminal background checks. The fingerprint based background check is a two-step process including online registration and fingerprinting taken digitally at a registered site. For more information and to begin the registration process, click here. Please be sure to choose the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) when registering. Where required, enter the PDE Service Code: 1KG6Y3. There is a $22.60 fee for this clearance which includes an automatic mailed unofficial copy of the results to the applicant.
-Once you have registered, proceed to an approved fingerprinting site to be digitally fingerprinted. A list of approved locations is available on the IdentoGo website.
4. Volunteer Policy Acknowledgment Statement
Click here to fill out, print the completed form and save as an electronic copy to upload with your three clearance documents.
Note: Once clearances are submitted to the District, LMSD will not provide copies of clearances.