*Please carefully read this full email as it explains important changes to our re-enrollment process and fee schedules.
We are excited to announce a new and improved re-enrollment process for the 2017-18 school year! In our desire to make your life easier, we are simplifying the re-enrollment process.
The primary improvement for our current families is that we are switching to an automatic re-enrollment approach. Since more than 90% of our families return every year, it makes more sense to simply plan on everyone returning unless you notify us otherwise. So in future years, instead of asking you to re-enroll your students each year, you will instead need to do nothing to re-enroll. You will only need to contact our Admissions Office if you find it necessary to cancel (withdraw) your re-enrollment for the upcoming year or to change your enrollment (for example, transferring from Homeschool to our traditional school).
For the 2017-18 school year, we will have each family read and sign a "Parent Agreement" form stating that you understand the new process.
We have provided answers below to some of the common questions about this new system. We trust this will be helpful as we make this transition together.
What do I need to do this year?
In order to introduce the new process, each family will need to read and digitally sign a Family Agreement document (one for each student). This will be done through your (the parent's) DC Connect account. Each parent has their own personal DC Connect account (in addition to the student accounts). If you still haven't set up your personal DC Connect account, please do so right away so you can receive the communications and documents that we will be providing through DC Connect.
There are additional web-based forms that must be filled out online for the various optional services, such as DCS-provided busing and after-school care.
Also, you will still need to let our Admissions office know whenever you change addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses. Changes in marital status and name changes also need to be communicated to the Admissions Office.
If you do choose not to return for the 2017-18 school year, you must complete the Decline Re-Enrollment Form in DC Connect by March 13, 2017 in order to avoid the late withdrawal fee (see below for details).
Why is it important to let the school know if we plan to withdraw?
The school leadership must begin planning early for the next school year if we are to be good stewards of our resources. Plans are made for staffing, programs, materials, curriculum, and facility usage. We strive to be fiscally responsible and to make wise decisions regarding our resources. For example, we make teacher hiring decisions each spring based on the number of students in each grade.
So, after this year, what will the "Re-Enrollment Season" look like?
Once you are on the "Continuous Enrollment Program," the t
ypical enrollment season (January through March) will simply be a
communication reminder from the Admissions Office informi
ng
families that might be thinking about leaving our school to complete the Decline Re-Enrollment Form, which will be available in DC Con
nect. This means that the majority of DCS families will have the convenience of ignoring the messaging and doing absolutely nothing!
What are the fees involved with this new process?
Similar to previous years, the early re-enrollment fee will be $50, payable by credit card when you complete the Parent Agreement. The deadline for early re-
enrollment is March 13, 2017. Families re-enrolling after this date will pay $250 per student. These fees are non-refundable.
Families that choose not to return for the 2017-18 school year must complete the Decline Re-Enrollment Form by March 13 in order to avoid paying any fees. Declining re-enrollment after March 13 and before June 30 will involve a $250 late withdrawal fee. Families withdrawing a student after June 30 will be charged a fee equal to 10% of the student's gross annual tuition.
Re-Enrollment will start on February 1. The Parent Agreements will be sent to you through your DC Connect account and will be due by March 13. You will simply log in to DC Connect and complete the agreement. This will be the only time you will need to complete this document.
Starting on February 1, you can login to your DC Connect account and click on the Parent Agreement(s) highlighted in the yellow banner near the top of the page. It should only take a couple of minutes to fill out the agreement for each child and you will be finished with re-enrollment for next year!
