Community Volunteers

1. Apply online (above) to become an Oakland School Volunteer.
   If your application is approved, we will reach out with instructions for how to complete the following requirements.
2. Attend an orientation session.
   Learn about volunteer guidelines and expectations, supporting students’ social-emotional development, and keeping students actively engaged and learning.
3. Upload tuberculosis clearance via email invitation. – TEMPORARILY NOT REQUIRED UNTIL IN-PERSON RETURNS
   Tuberculosis clearance is valid for four years. You will get more detailed instructions when your volunteer application is approved.
4. Complete a Live Scan fingerprint criminal background check.
   We require this step to ensure all of our schools are safe places. You will need our unique “Request for Live Scan Services” form to complete this step. The results take from 2 to 14 days to arrive in our secure mailbox. There is a $35.00 fee for this service. If the cost is a barrier for you, please reach out to osv@oaklandedfund.org after you apply to ask about our financial aid scholarship program to cover the cost of fingerprinting. You will receive more detailed instructions via email once your volunteer application is approved.
5. Sign the liability waiver.
   You will receive this waiver to sign once your fingerprinting results have been received.
6. Submit a photo of yourself for your volunteer clearance badge. – TEMPORARILY NOT REQUIRED UNTIL IN-PERSON RETURNS
   Use a color photo with your eyes open and facing the camera. No hats or sunglasses. (Please let us know if you cannot meet the photo requirements for religious or medical reasons.) Once you’ve completed the on-boarding requirements, you will be given a badge to wear every time you volunteer. This way, school staff knows you are fully cleared and safe to be an ongoing volunteer on campus.
7. Attend a content training session. – OPTIONAL. This step is optional but highly recommended. We offer trainings in literacy and math tutoring strategies at both the elementary and middle school levels. For high school, we offer the Career Coach training.

NOTE: If you plan to volunteer at a Childhood Development Center (Pre-K), you must provide proof of vaccination for influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles to the front office at the school where you will volunteer.

Request a unique email for volunteering:

• Fill out this form to apply for an email on OUSD’s “pass list”  to be able to access protected Google Classroom + Google Meet. (Zoom is available to anyone the host gives access to.)

Tips for Using Zoom:

• How to Set Up a Zoom Account for Volunteering (Password: x3SKgF*0)
• How to Share Your Personal Meeting ID with Your Educator Contact (Password: rD45%TL=)
• Managing Breakout Rooms
• Finding and viewing local recordings
• Zoom Best Practices by OUSD

FAQ: Primary Platforms Used for Distance Learning: 

• How to Use + Edit Google Slides
• How to toggle between screens on Zoom
• What is Google Classroom?
• What is Zoom?
• What Are Internet Tabs?

Issues Uploading Your Weekly Report?

1. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies: Chrome | Firefox | Safari
2. Close your browser (quit if you are using a Mac) and restart your computer
3. Double-check that your browser version is up to date: Chrome | Firefox | Safari.
4. Restart your computer
5. Copies of videos from previous tutoring or coaching sessions may have automatically saved to your Google Drive, and these video files are large and could be resulting in the server error you are encountering.
   • Double-check your storage capacity by going to https://drive.google.com/settings/storage (all Google accounts start with 15 GB of storage), while logged into your gmail account. You may have to delete previously saved videos before trying to submit your video recordings again.

Resources to Be a Stellar Volunteer:

• Relationship Building Activities
• Planning Virtual Tutoring Sessions
• Guide to OUSD Educational Apps and Online Platforms
• OUSD Family Central
• 2020-21 Career Coach Discussion Roadmap
• 2020-21 Career Coach Toolkit

Suggested Additional Learning: 

• Edutopia – Comprehensive Assessment, Integrated Studies, Project-Based Learning, Social & Emotional Learning, Teacher Development, and Technology Integration
• EL Education YouTube – Language Arts Curriculum. Watch videos for teaching common core lessons.
• Newsela – This platform takes real and new content from trusted providers and turns it into learning materials that meet State standards.

We host orientation and training sessions to support Oakland School Volunteers to be their best. The orientation sessions are required for all ongoing community volunteers and trainings are optional, but highly recommended. ALL SESSIONS WILL BE VIRTUAL UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Access the resources below to RSVP for a training session, read an overview of the programming and access training resources. Click the links to preview the content.

• Orientation: Clearance requirements, guidelines & expectations, safety information & procedures, social-emotional learning and student development, and tips for working with students
• Elementary Literacy Training: Introduction to the culture of literacy in OUSD, the building blocks of literacy with tutoring strategies, and components of writing with tutoring strategies.
• Elementary Math Training: Common core standards, OUSD’s vision for mathematics, and tutoring strategies.
• Middle School Literacy Training: Student assessment data, strategies to support literacy and reading comprehension, components of writing, and practice resources.
• Middle School Math Training: Development expectations by grade level, tips for supporting skill development, and scenario-based tutoring tips.
• High School Career Coach Training: Building relationships with students, effective mentorship, supporting college readiness, career exploration, professional skills, and writing support.
• Virtual 1:1 Tutoring: Setting up Zoom, reporting requirements, structuring sessions, and keeping students engaged.

1. PRE-APPROVED ACTIVITIES (NO NOTIFICATION/APPLICATION NECESSARY)

   • Use of Playgrounds: Certain school playgrounds are open to the public on weekdays in the afternoon.
   • OAL/Sports: OAL sports are now permitted pursuant to CIF guidelines.

2. INDOOR OR ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES – All in-person indoor activities (e.g., staff professional development, PTA meetings) are prohibited unless listed below.
   Volunteers may NOT participate in these activities.

   • In-Person Instruction: In-person instruction is being coordinated through Network Superintendents and the Hybrid Planning Team. This presentation contains helpful information about reopening requirements.
     • Individual Student Assessments: In-person student assessments, such as IEP or ELPAC assessments, are allowed upon permission from the appropriate site leader or department head. Assessments should be administered online if possible. Please conduct it outdoors if possible and inside only when necessary.
   • Small Group Instruction/1:1 tutoring: Small group instruction or 1:1 tutoring provided by a certificated staff member is permitted if it is done outside of instructional hours. An extended contract is required if an employee is working outside of work hours.
     • Learning Hubs: If a site is interested in hosting a new learning hub, the site leader should speak with their Network Superintendent, who will assist in following the Learning Hub approval and opening process.
   • Internships: Internships, including in-person internships, maybe be permitted pending approval by OUSD Legal. 
   • Spring 2021 Graduation Ceremonies: The District recently published graduation ceremony guidance.