The Los Angeles Unified School District announced on Nov. 13 that it has begun making it easier for families and community members to volunteer at local schools.

The LAUSD will eliminate costly fees charged to volunteers for fingerprinting and background checks to become a volunteer, and expand locations where families and community members can sign up to help.

“Families and community members are essential to the success of our students and schools,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “We want to eliminate costly fees and needless bureaucracy so every family and community member can help us provide every child with a great education.”

Under the new approach, the LAUSD will cover a $56 state fee that each volunteer is required to pay for fingerprinting and backgrounds checks. Additionally, LAUSD will nearly double the number of locations where volunteers can be fingerprinted and complete the process from seven to 13 locations.

“We know that family and community involvement in their children’s education is essential for student success,” LAUSD board President Mónica García said. “We welcome efforts to remove all barriers that our community currently faces with volunteering in schools. L.A. Unified values parent, family and community engagement, and this will be an important step to make that engagement stronger and better for our students.”

The proposal is part of ongoing efforts by the district to eliminate barriers between schools and the community. The LAUSD has conducted parent surveys, increased community meetings, and taken other steps to engage parents and legal guardians about better serving students.

“From spending time in each school in my district to meeting with parents, school staff and partners in each of these school communities, I have consistently heard that the process to volunteer in our schools is too cumbersome, too expensive and too confusing,” LAUSD board Vice President Nick Melvoin added. “I have urged the superintendent to drastically improve this process so that we can encourage, rather than deter, volunteers helping our schools thrive.”

For information, visit lausd.net.