Anonymous wrote:So, what happens when a bunch of kids show up to school on the first day and have not registered? I know all of us here are super planners, but I know in many areas this is not the case, and some parents who just don't know any better, or don't speak/read english to understand the forms etc.

The schools have to scramble. There are ways they anticipate who will be coming. Children who are enrolled in preschool and head start are known. They send forms home with children already enrolled to parents to full to indicate younger children. They use census when they can. History. There is an ability to predict. It is a bit of science, statistics, and art to estimate how many will show up on the first day.

This was actually just brought up at a recent meeting on class size and how late registration is skewing how many teachers are being hired to start out the year. The earlier parents can get their forms in, the easier it is for schools to plan for their coming and the quicker money will come to the school for supplies and teachers. The schools do have to allow anyone within boundary to attend starting on any given day, but they are not always adequately prepared if they don't know how many students will be starting on the first day. Think of how private schools do registration. Most have a cutoff day for registration to process the paperwork, purchase books, and hire teachers. Public Schools work in a similar way.

So, what happens when a bunch of kids show up to school on the first day and have not registered? I know all of us here are super planners, but I know in many areas this is not the case, and some parents who just don't know any better, or don't speak/read english to understand the forms etc.

You really need to be signing up for SACC early. Registering, not so much. We went to an orientation in March the year before Kinder and the adminstrators said that registering early gives them a better idea of how many kids there will be and ensures the school is alotted enough resources.

*Check

No, you have to register. Lots of paperwork! We received a packet in the mail and filled out the paperwork in April or May, and there was an on-site registration in mid-May. Checks your school's website in the spring.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me how this works? I find no info on our schools website. My DC will be starting K in september 2016, but I heard from other parents that I may have to register her as early as July 2015? Can she not just show up the first day of school since we live in the school's district?

Most school's registration is in the spring before the child will enter K. What your friends are probably referring to is SACC registration which is run by the County, not FCPS. If you'll need before or after school care, registration opens 15 months before the child enters K. You can read about SACC at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc/sacc.htm

Can someone tell me how this works? I find no info on our schools website. My DC will be starting K in september 2016, but I heard from other parents that I may have to register her as early as July 2015? Can she not just show up the first day of school since we live in the school's district?