Hi Friend,

It's hard to believe we're nearly halfway through December already. While the families with whom you work (and probably you, too!) have the upcoming holidays and winter break on their minds, it's important to reiterate to them they need to take action their school options next year.

Partner Message of the Week: It's Time to Pre-Register for BPS

The big message we need to get out to families is that starting Monday, Dec. 16, they can pre-register online for Boston Public Schools. Here are five key points about pre-registration that families should understand: 

1. When pre-registration opens on Monday, it does not mean the are registering their child for school. What is does mean is that they can complete much of their registration paperwork online ahead of registration in January, such as entering their child(ren)'s information and ranking their school choices.
2. Even if they pre-register, they still must go to a Welcome Center in person once priority registration starts in January. Online pre-registration simplifies their Welcome Center visit but does not replace their in-person Welcome Center visit.
3. While walk-ins are welcome, families can reduce their Welcome Center wait time when they make a Welcome Center appointment online as part of the pre-registration process.
4. If they already have a BPS student currently enrolled in school, they do not need to pre-register that student. 
5. However: all students new to BPS need to register, even if families have other children already enrolled in BPS.

Pre-Registration Resources for Partners

To help you get the word out to families, we've created several resources in partnership with BPS, including pre-registration infographics in English and Spanish, and a short explainer video on the pre-registration process. (You'll find these resources below, with links to PDFs as appropriate.) 

All of our pre-registration materials are also translated into eight languages online.

We also encourage you to have your families sign up for our school enrollment text alerts. Signing up takes just a few seconds when they text the word "SCHOOL" to 33-777. (And if you haven't already, you should sign up, too!)

ICYMI: School Preview + Open House Submission Form

We're in the thick of school preview season and we're keeping our running lists of school previews and open houses up-to-date. If you have changes to your school preview dates or need to add an open house to our list, please complete this form online.

One last reminder before we go: the BPS Showcase of Schools is tomorrow—Saturday, Dec. 14—from 9 AM to 1 PM at Boston Latin Academy. Free transportation is available; see the link for more info.

Warmly,
Latoya Gayle, Executive Director
Boston School Finder