Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS)

The purpose of Volunteers in Public Schools is to support and enrich the educational experience of children and to involve our community in actively supporting public education.

Interested adults, age 21 and over, are eligible to apply.

No.  A volunteer is a person rendering instructional services for or on behalf of the school/district. Volunteers are given an assignment or task dealing directly with children other than their own while on campus or on school-sponsored trips. Visitors attending campus functions or eating lunch with their child who are not interacting with students other than their own do not need to fill out a VIPs application. Visitors may simply sign-in at the front office. (Note: first-time visitors to a campus will be asked to present a driver’s license or photo ID to be scanned into the Raptor system at the time of their visit first.)

Reading to students, assisting in computer labs, chaperoning field trips, making copies, preparing projects and bulletin boards, serving as a guest speaker, helping with small groups in the classroom, and assisting with book fairs, open houses, and teacher luncheons are some of the activities available to volunteers. Activities vary by campus, so please check with your campus for more information.

Upon completing the application, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know that your application has been received and is being reviewed. If your application is approved, you will be notified in a separate email. 

Background checks can take as little as 24 hours or up to 3-4 business days so please submit your form well in advance of the event or activity for which you plan to volunteer.  

Different volunteer positions have different requirements. Generally, the more serious the offense, and the more recent the offense, the more likely it is that you will not be able to serve as a volunteer.

Once the on-line application has been processed and your background check is clear, you will be notified by email of your status.Upon receiving your approval email, you will be able to begin volunteering at the campus of your choice immediately.

Volunteers must sign in and out for each visit. Volunteer sign-in is completed electronically through Raptor, the districts visitor management system. Simply stop by the front desk when you get to the school and the office staff will sign you in. Volunteers will also coordinate with office personnel as to their assignments while on campus.

The volunteer application and subsequent background checks must be completed each school year.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact any campus or the SAISD Communications Department at (325) 947-3838, ext. 524.