School Registration Initiative Will Increase Access and Convenience With Satellite Locations
See Press Release Below:
BOSTON — Monday, August 5, 2019 — Today, Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced 11 “Neighborhood Registration” satellite locations to be held at community centers throughout the city for the next three Saturdays. This initiative aims to reach families new to Boston and BPS who have not yet registered their students for the upcoming school year, making the registration process more convenient and accessible to parents and families.
“Getting out into the community to bring resources to our students and families for the new school year is critical,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Through these satellite neighborhood registrations, the Boston Public Schools will be able to better support the many families who are new to Boston and are looking for guidance on how to navigate the school registration process. I appreciate Superintendent Cassellius’s commitment to making it easier for families to register their students and be ready for the first day of school.”
The BPS Neighborhood Registration sites are located at Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) and are designed to accommodate the influx of registrants the district processes in August as the first day of the school year approaches. During the last three years, on average just over 50% of students are registered during the primary BPS registration season in January through March, while around 20% of students are registered during August and September. The average number of student registrations in August and September over the last three years is approximately 2,700.
Neighborhood Registration sites will offer the same services available at the district’s four Welcome Centers in Dorchester, East Boston, Roslindale, and Roxbury, which include school registration, change of address, school transfers and more. While BPS regularly holds registration sites at schools in various neighborhoods at different points throughout the school year, this effort marks a step forward in bringing registration to more accessible locations and on weekends.
Families registering their students for school at a Neighborhood Registration site or a Welcome Center must bring:
• The parent/guardian’s picture identification (ID);
• The student’s original birth certificate, passport, or I-94 form;
• The student’s up-to-date immunization record(s);
• And, two proofs of residency.
For more information, visit bostonpublicschools.org/registerbps.
“I’m excited to partner with the Department of Neighborhood Services, the Boston Center for Youth and Families and our many other city partners to bring BPS registration to a neighborhood near you,” said Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. “This is a great example of our ‘all hands on deck’ approach to serving children. One of our promises is to meet families where they are in a way that is welcoming, accessible and convenient — whether that’s in a community center, a place of worship or a neighborhood gathering place. Our hope is that these additional opportunities and sites will make it easier for families to register their students and help them feel more connected to BPS and their child’s school.”
The Neighborhood Registration initiative is part of the first phase of Dr. Cassellius’s community engagement efforts to bring greater district services into Boston neighborhoods, while increasing interaction with families, and to hear their thoughts and ideas for the school system and their students. Cassellius began her role as Superintendent on July 1, and previously served as the education commissioner for the state of Minnesota.
While BPS holds annual registration periods beginning in January and encourages families to choose schools at that time, the district registers students year-round.
“I’m thrilled to see BPS taking more proactive steps to make sure the needs of students are being met as early as possible,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto. “Dr. Cassellius has continuously pledged to engage with our communities as much as possible, and it’s great to see this promise beginning to take shape.”
The first day of school for the 2019-20 school year is Thursday, September 5, for grades 1-12; and Monday, September 9, for preschool (K0, K1) and Kindergarten (K2) students.
Dates and locations for neighborhood registration sessions are below:
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
