Are you looking for ways to cut or reallocate your budget? Do you need to streamline processes? Have you considered implementing an online registration system?
If you currently process student enrollment and registration forms manually or with outdated software, your staff works overtime during peak enrollment weeks, or updating your SIS requires manual labor, then an online registration system may be right for you.
More and more schools and districts are turning to online technology solutions to help manage everyday tasks. The trend of working with partners has proven to be valuable however; the daunting task of comparing products, attending demos, etc. can be exhausting.
We’ve compiled a list of questions to consider as you review systems to ensure the service provider you select will perform how and when you need it.
- Does the system help reduce parents’ time spent filling out forms as well as waiting in line, creating a better experience for parents?
- Can online forms be created and used year-round (i.e. field trip forms, special event sign-up, etc.), making the system more versatile rather than just for the beginning of the school year?
- How easily can forms be created and edited, allowing schools to make necessary changes when necessary?
- Does the system provide residency verification alerts, increasing your registrar’s operational efficiency?
- Can forms be created and viewed in multiple languages, making it user-friendly for ALL parents?
- Does the system have built-in ways to solicit donations, increasing your return on investment?
- Will the system assist in recouping fees for lost textbooks, further saving your school money?
- Are eCommerce and credit card processing capabilities offered, allowing parents to take care of all purchases online?
- Does the software allow privileged-level access; allowing PTAs, Boosters, etc. to access certain information while still maintaining security of data?
- Is the software all-inclusive, allowing you to utilize all applications at no extra charge?
- How is customer and technical support provided for administrators and parents (online support, live customer assistance,etc.)?
- What other suite of products are offered (lottery management, merchant processing, web store, etc.) that integrates to allow for a one-stop shop?
- And lastly, one of the most critical questions is how easily does the system integrate with your school information system?
Choosing an online school registration system that is inclusive and considers the needs of parents, students, teachers and administration is important. Make sure discussions include representatives of the student body, staff and parents. Parents want registration to be quick and easy, while administrators want a lot of information.
Any company can create an online registration system, but companies like K-12 Online that specialize in school management software know and understand the basic registration needs of K-12 schools and will help you identify the most useful features that work for your school and with your system.
