An afternoon
Shark Shop shifts
Help students spend their Shark Bucks during lunch, once a month.
Needs the free commercial background check — not fingerprinting, because you won’t be supervising students alone.
Volunteer
Start with what you can actually give.
SRMS runs on thousands of volunteer hours a year. Some jobs take an afternoon. Others need a clearance that takes three weeks. Here's which is which, before you commit to anything.
Changed 1 October 2026
Chaperones now need fingerprinting
Anne Arundel County Public Schools now requires a fingerprint-supported background check to chaperone, and for several specific volunteer roles. Checks approved before October 1 are still accepted for as long as they remain valid.
Not every volunteer needs it. School-based volunteers who won’t have lone supervision of students generally still use the free commercial check. The breakdown is below.
Pick your lane
How much time do you have?
Most people don't say no because they don't care. They say no because nobody told them what they were agreeing to.
A few hours a month
Events & committees
Spirit nights, staff appreciation, honor roll treats, fundraisers. Requirements vary by event — most need at least a commercial background check.
Field trips & overnights
Chaperone
Needs fingerprinting as of October 1. Start at least three weeks before the trip — it is a one-off, and then it lasts years.
Clearances
Who needs fingerprinting
This is an Anne Arundel County Public Schools process, not a PTSO one — we can't speed it up, but we can explain it.
Fingerprinting required
The county lists these roles:
- All overnight volunteers or chaperones
- All drown proofing volunteers or chaperones
- All Polar Bear Plunge volunteers and chaperones
- Any volunteer or chaperone with one-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access to children
- Student teachers
- All Student Services interns and practicum students
- Any intern with one-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access to children
Commercial check is usually enough
For most school-based volunteering:
School-based volunteers who will not be in direct lone supervision of students do not necessarily need a fingerprint check.
Shark Shop volunteers, for instance, need the free commercial background check rather than fingerprinting — you’re working a busy lunch alongside staff and other parents.
If you’re unsure which applies to you, check the county page below or contact the AACPS Office of School Security before you book anything.
The two checks
What each one costs, and how long it lasts
| Fingerprint-supported | Commercial | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $61.75 | Free |
| Valid for | The whole time your family has students in AACPS | 2 years |
| Required for | Chaperones, overnight trips, and the roles listed above | Most school-based volunteering, including the Shark Shop |
| How to apply | Phone the Fingerprinting Office on 410-222-5045 | Online, through the AACPS application page |
| Lead time | At least 3 weeks before the trip | Allow a couple of weeks |
| You'll receive | A Fingerprint Verification Card for the SRMS office | Email confirmation |
Getting cleared
The process, in five steps
Start at least three weeks before the event you want to work — AACPS asks for that lead time and it is genuinely needed.
1
Check you're eligible
You must be at least 18 years old to chaperone or volunteer.
2
Work out which check you need
Chaperoning a trip, or taking on one of the roles listed above? You need fingerprinting. Helping at a school-based activity alongside staff, like the Shark Shop? The free commercial check is normally enough.
3
Book your fingerprinting, or apply for a commercial check
For fingerprinting, phone the AACPS Fingerprinting Office on 410-222-5045 to book — appointments are by phone only, and it costs $61.75. For a commercial check, go to the AACPS page, scroll to Background Check Application just past the Definitions section, and follow the instructions. You’ll need a valid email address.
4
Watch the training video
Everyone applying must watch the AACPS Sexual Harassment and Child Abuse training video, available in English and Spanish. It's linked from the AACPS background investigations page below, along with the Volunteer Video Verification Form.
5
Turn in your paperwork at SRMS
Submit the Volunteer Video Verification Form to the SRMS office staff. If you were fingerprinted, show them your Fingerprint Verification Card too.