The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all children and young adults in our community. To accomplish this, Lab requires that volunteers, contractors, researchers, and visiting third parties who will substantially interact with students complete appropriate training, are aware of the relevant Lab policies, and provide their personal identification information that will enable Lab to assess risk using the National Sex Offender Registry.

Parents, guardians, and caregivers need to complete this training if they want to volunteer at Lab by, for example, serving as a Room Parent, field trip or event chaperone, PA Council member, Spirit Wear store volunteer, Book Swap or Holiday Book Fair and Bazaar volunteer, sponsoring a club or team, decorating spaces around campus, or coaching. Lab may at any time also require training for other volunteer activities.

These requirements reflect Lab's Policy on Safety of Students in Laboratory Schools' Programs, the University of Chicago’s Safety of Children in University Programs Policy and Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Policy & FAQ’s for Staff and Volunteers, the Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the provisions of the Illinois School Code at 105 ILCS 5/22-85.5, and best practices in Nursery–Grade 12 teaching described by our guiding professional organizations, such as the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).

Please contact Marsha East at meast@ucls.uchicago.edu for questions about this training. 

For information about your volunteer, research, or other assignment or participation plan, please contact the teacher, administrator, or staff person who you will be working with.