Falls Church City, Va. Leads the Way in Online School Registration

For the first time, Falls Church City, Va., residents were able to register their children online for grades K-12 using a secure, privacy-protected process. Online registration was initiated in response to parents' complaints about burdensome forms, long lines, and inconvenient timing. Falls Church City Public Schools administrative personnel reported positive reactions from families who used the new online registration process.

Those families without Internet access or experience using online forms were invited to attend an open house where administrators could demonstrate the ease and convenience of online registration to parents and incoming students. Administrators also commented on how the online registration process cut back on inefficient paper forms and allowed more time to focus on the students.

The new online registration system eased the process for both Falls Church City parents and school administrators. Data entered by parents into customized online web forms went into Falls Church City's database, making the information immediately available throughout the school system for multiple uses -- including locating emergency contacts, meeting state and federal reporting requirements, and producing PTA directories. The technology also lets administrators print out copies of completed forms.