November 14, 2005

 Registration Forms Report

A subcommittee of Becky Conway, Carole Monks, Barb Kerley, Renee Hutchison, Shelly Skocaj, and Chuck Bowen asked all school secretaries to send in copies of all forms and handouts used at registration.  The subcommittee sorted the submitted forms into 26 categories.  Various forms types included registration information forms, parental signature forms needed to comply with NCLB, due process notifications, and various information handouts.  Based upon their analysis of the forms, the subcommittee volunteered to propose revisions based upon the following recommendations:

1. All forms used at registration should be standardized across all schools.
2. The standardized forms should be consolidated to as few as possible.
3. Parental signature forms, especially, should be combined into a few, with one serving for all in-district needs and with as few as possible for out-of-district partners.
4. Volunteer training and/or cheat sheets should be standardized, as well.
5. Volunteers should be trained to help parents complete the forms accurately and completely.
6. Real-time information must be provided to schools to coordinate free/reduced lunch applications and fee payments.

 Brainstorming the "When's"

The task force agreed that their task divided into two broad issues:  "What" and "When."  The "What" is mostly made up of the registration materials--assigned to the subcommittee above.  "When" addresses the issue of what time of year to conduct registration, ans the task force brainstormed the following possible times:

     1.  Same as now: One day in August

     2.  Spring

- Financial incentive for parents to register and pay fees in spring

- Bill parents in August for fees

- Promise parents that fees paid by a certain date will assure their child's place on a class list in their home school.

     3.  By Internet anytime in June through early August.

- Fees paid via Internet or billed

- Access Internet at grocery store kiosks, library, or school LC

- Collect signatures at a later event, e.g., Meet the Teacher

     4. Late Registration

- Provide a single "Back-Up Registration Day" somewhere in the district for parents who don't make it to the school on registration day.

- Disallow registration at the school offices at any time other than the announced registration day.

Two or more of the above

may be combined

to increase participation.

 

 Planning How to Do the "When's"

The task force agreed that the November 28 meeting will be used to begin fleshing out each of the above ideas.  Members will divide into four groups, each providing the following for one of the "When's"

• A detailed plan of dates and what is to be accomplished on each
• A list of necessary forms, procedures, programs, etc., needed for success
• A plan for evaluating whether or not the "When" would actually improve participation and accuracy of registration

NOTE

Because the November 28 meeting was cancelled,

the above agenda will apply

to the meeting on December 12th.