Beginning in September, some of the volunteers in the city’s public schools will be required to submit to background checks.

Under the Norwalk Public Schools’ up-graded volunteer policy, which was unanimously approved by the Board of Education last week, volunteers over 18 years old must submit to background checks, including fingerprinting and reviews of national databases for involvement with criminal and child protective services, in cases where they would work with students in any type of out-of-school activities, chaperone overnight field trips, work in direct contact with students without the presence of a teacher, or have reason to communicate with students in person during out-of-school time or by phone or any electronic means during school or non-school hours.

Parents or guardians who volunteer to work in their own children’s schools during the school day under the supervision of an NPS teacher or administrator would not be required to submit to a background check including fingerprinting, nor would volunteers performing a one-time service in the presence of an NPS teacher or administrator.