DoDEA Okinawa addresses school registration Published July 10, 2012 By Department of Defense Education Activity Okinawa Public Affairs OKINAWA, Japan -- Every summer brings a new wave of families to Okinawa. For those with children, transitioning smoothly into new schools is a top priority. The DoDEA Okinawa District is committed to making this process as family friendly as possible. Registering children for school as early as possible ensures our schools are properly staffed, supplied and ready to go when we open our doors for the new school year. Hiring well-qualified teachers and support specialists in an overseas environment is a lengthy process. By knowing your child's needs as early as possible, we can do a better job of providing the right professionals at the right time. There are important differences between pre-registration, registration, re-registration and withdrawal that parents should be aware of when moving to a new community or preparing for a new school year in the same community. Understanding these differences will help save busy families time and reduce stress for everyone. Even families already enrolled in DoDEA schools will find this information helpful: Pre-registration Pre-registration is a way to save transitioning families time by providing access to registration forms online. Sponsors can fill out basic information and required forms online, or they can download, print and fill out paper forms at home. Pre-registration is available online by visiting: https://registration.dodea.edu/ Follow the instructions for any forms that need to be completed, printed, signed and turned in at the school when you arrive. Please note, sponsors still must come to the school in person to complete the registration process. If you are unsure which school you will be zoned for, visit http://www.okinawa.pac.dodea.edu/transportation.html Registration Registration is required before your child can attend DoDEA schools in Okinawa. If you have completed your child's registration packet, deliver it to the registrar at the school in which your child will enroll. You can do this at any time of the year during regular school office hours. If you do not already have a registration packet, you can pick one up in person from the school or print the forms from this link: http://www.okinawa.pac.dodea.edu/parents.html. You must fill out one packet for each child and turn it in to their respective schools. Once the school registrar has received your paperwork, confirmed your eligibility and entered your child into the system, you will be provided a start date for your child to begin attending classes. Re-registration Re-registration is for children already attending DoDEA schools in Okinawa, who wish to continue attending for the following school year. If your child will be attending the same school or changing schools due to grade-level advancement, go to their current school during regular school office hours to update your child's paperwork. If you are requesting a school transfer for your child for any other reason, go to their current school and fill out a waiver form for the desired school. Return the completed form to the school registrar. Once the waiver is reviewed and processed, the school registrar will contact you to tell you whether your transfer request was approved or disapproved. (Note: Okinawa District Schools conduct an annual spring registration every April. We highly encourage families to re-register during this time. The process can be completed during the summer, but the sooner the better. Remember: the earlier you register, the smoother the process.) Withdrawl Withdrawal is for families who wish to disenroll their children from DoDEA schools in Okinawa. Most often this is due to a change in the sponsor's duty station. The sponsor must bring a copy of their signed PCS orders to the school and fill out a withdrawal form prior to departure. This must be completed for each child and each school as soon as possible after receiving official orders. If a parent wishes to disenroll their child for any other reason, they may do so by going to their child's school and filling out a withdrawal form. The parent must provide a reason for withdrawal on this form. REGISTRATION FAQs: Q: How do I know which school my child will attend? A: You can view a zoning map online at http://www.okinawa.pac.dodea.edu/transportation.html. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "School Zone and Bus Route Map." If you're still not sure, contact the Student Transportation Office: DSN: 315-645-7820/2036, from off-base: 098-970-7820 or via email: OKIN-BUS@pac.dodea.edu. Q: Where do I register my child for school? A: You must register your child at the school they will attend. For re-registration and withdrawal, you must go to the child's current school to begin the process. The DoDEA Okinawa District also hosts an annual spring re-registration drive where you can re-register all your children in one convenient location. Contact your child's school for more information. Q: Can I fill out the forms ahead of time? A: Yes. Visit http://www.okinawa.pac.dodea.edu/parents.html and click on "Registration Forms" to print the packet. You can also pre-register your children online at: https://registration.dodea.edu. Q: Will my child ride the bus? A: Bus eligibility information can be found online at http://www.okinawa.pac.dodea.edu/transportation.html. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "School Zone and Bus Route Map." For more information, contact the Student Transportation Office: DSN: 315-645-7820/2036, from off-base: 098-970-7820 or via email: OKIN-BUS@pac.dodea.edu. Q: What are the age requirements for Sure Start (Pre-K)/Kindergarten/First Grade? A: A child must turn 4 years old by September 1 of the enrolling year for entrance into Sure Start (Pre-K). Sure Start is a special program with specific criteria for eligibility. To learn more about Sure Start, visit this site: http://www.pac.dodea.edu/edservices/educationprograms/surestart.htm For Kindergarten, a child must turn 5 years old by September 1 of the corresponding school year, and for First Grade, the age requirement is six years old by September 1. Q: I'm a DoD contractor. What are the tuition rates and how do I pay? A: To view current tuition rates, visit http://www.dodea.edu/offices/fiscal/docs/2012_13_TutRates_DoDDS.pdf. For payment options and more information, contact the district registrar at DSN: 315-634-8995 or gary.john@pac.dodea.edu.