Volunteer Application

All new Learning Leaders volunteers must be screened and trained before being placed in a school. The procedures for screening, training and placement are described below.

Before You Apply

Before you apply to become a Learning Leader, please visit our Programs page to learn about the many school volunteer programs that we offer throughout the five boroughs, and Browse specific opportunities. You can also visit our Borough Maps to find Learning Leaders schools that are near your home or office.

Screening, Training and Placement*

School parents who wish to volunteer in their child’s school are generally screened and trained at the school or at a school nearby. Your Parent Coordinator can tell you more about Learning Leaders volunteer programs at your child’s school and about available trainings. At the training, you will be asked to complete a volunteer application which you can print out and bring with you. You will also be asked to provide three references who are not family members. Once you have completed the screening and training process, you will be assigned to a classroom or, if you prefer, a general support position that will depend on the needs of the school. Please note that you may NOT volunteer in your child’s classroom.

Community members who do not have children in the New York City public schools are generally screened and trained at our Central Office in downtown Manhattan or at centralized locations in the other boroughs. Before you register for training, you must complete a volunteer application. A staff member will contact you to schedule a brief interview. At the interview, you will be asked about your background and experiences. It is important that we learn more about your interests in our program! Once you have completed the screening and training process, you will be assigned to a school in consultation with a member of our staff.

*Please note that the screening, training and placement procedures for Middle School, High School, Enrichment Programs and Corporate Programs are different from the procedures outlined above. Also, some of these programs have limited availability. The specific pages for these programs contain additional information about these programs, including contact information for the program coordinators, who are available to answer any questions you may have about these programs.

Still Have Questions?

If you have questions about the screening, training and placement process, or about volunteering with Learning Leaders generally, you may be able to find the answers at Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, please call 212-213-3370 or send an email to volunteer@learningleaders.org.