Florida Department of Education announces model policy for volunteer school chaplains program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following the signing of House Bill 931, the department has created a model policy to provide school districts with the appropriate guidelines to ensure that credible chaplains can volunteer in Florida’s schools.

These chaplains will serve as an additional resource for students. Florida welcomes only legitimate and officially authorized chaplains to become volunteers at their local schools and to provide students with morally sound guidance.

The principal at each school is responsible for ensuring applicants meet the following minimum requirements before being put on the school’s list of Volunteer School Chaplains:

1. Meet the definition of chaplain above;
2. Not be disqualified following a background screening under section 1012.465, Florida Statutes;
3. Demonstrate a local religious affiliation as defined above;
4. Possess a bachelor’s degree consisting of at least 120 semester hours;
5. Possess a graduate degree in counseling or theology consisting of at least 36 semester hours, or demonstrate seven years as a chaplain as defined above;
6. Demonstrate at least two years as a chaplain with a local religious affiliation as those terms are defined above;
7. Sign an assurance that he or she will not teach or encourage students to behave contrary to any of Florida’s state academic standards; and
8. Demonstrate a sincere desire to meet the objectives of the Volunteer School Chaplain Program and enhance student welfare. A principal may deny the application of any individual to become a volunteer chaplain if the principal determines that the individual is not applying to fulfill the program’s purpose or the applicant’s participation will be contrary to the pedagogical interests of the school and the chaplaincy program.

For more information about the Volunteer School Chaplain Program, visit www.fldoe.org.