001Hello Arlington Public Schools families . My name is Iliana Gonzalez and I am the Director of Student Enrollment and Language Services and I am excited to guide you through the process of drawing names for schools and optional programs, transferring from elementary and high schools. Together we will explore the schools and programs that Arlington offers, the process for submitting an application to participate in the lottery, the key dates to keep in mind, and how the selection of names is done . We will also discuss what to expect if your student is offered a place or placed on the waiting list, and how to find more information and support during this process. Join us to learn about all the academic opportunities and special programs that Arlington has available for your student. We are pleased to share that
002Arlington offers a wide variety of schools and programs from preschool through high school. We have options for every student and every family. On your screen you will see the complete list of options for elementary and secondary levels that include bilingual instruction in English and Spanish, Montessori programs, math, science and technology, advanced academics and programs that promote student autonomy. Each of these programs provides students with the opportunity to explore their interests, develop new skills, and grow in learning environments. Each of these programs provides students with the opportunity to explore their interests, develop new skills, and grow in dynamic and supportive learning environments. For more information, you can attend the information sessions offered in the fall and spring or visit the Arlington website. Now I'll leave you with Terry Murphy, director of English language learner services, who
003will share more information about our early childhood programs. Hi, I'm Terry Murphy. We are proud to offer a wide variety of early childhood programs that support our youngest students and help them develop a strong foundation for their future success. On their screen they can see all the available early learning options. These include Virginia's preschool initiative. or VPI, which offers high-quality preschool experiences, the Community Peer Program ( CPP), which promotes inclusive learning, the Montessori program that focuses on hands-on, child-centered learning, and more. These programs are inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and designed to meet the needs of each child. Visit the website to watch our informative video about early childhood programs, learn about specific school locations, and explore your options to find the best one for your student. Visit the website to watch our informative video about early
004childhood programs, learn about specific school locations, and explore your options to find the best one for your student. Each year Arlington reviews school enrollment to determine if school campuses have more students than they were designed to receive. In collaboration with staff from various departments, Arlington determines the necessary adjustments for the upcoming school year and the number of slots available for optional programs and school transfers. This year Arlington will be able to use neighborhood transfers and targeted transfers to help balance enrollment. Neighborhood transfers are available for all students of the same grade level to schools that have available space. Targeted transfers allow students from certain areas to request transfers to nearby schools with available space. We will soon share which schools will offer transfers and how many spaces will be available in January. Transfer opportunities may
005change each year depending on the availability of space at each school. Now let's take a moment to review this year's drawing process timeline . Although the exact dates may vary from year to year, the application period generally runs from November to January, so it's a good idea to start preparing in advance. This is the timeline for this year's name lottery application. When the application period opens , families will be able to start submitting their application through schools. As long as the application is made within the lottery period, the chances of getting a place for your student will be the same. regardless of whether the application is submitted at the beginning or end of the period. Make sure to submit all required documents before the application deadline. After the application period closes, we will hold a
006live virtual drawing and announce the results of the first phase that same day. Families will receive notifications throughout the day, so please keep an eye on your emails. If a place is offered to new students, they must complete their registration before the deadline at the end of June. Let's look at the process for applying for admission to a school or optional program, or for requesting a school transfer. The process is simple and easy to follow, and the same steps apply to all school levels. However, due to specific requirements, the Virginia Preschool Initiative follows a different application process. Terry Murphy will explain that process to us next. So if you're going to apply to any of our programs from preschool to dual grade, here's how you can get started. Open your web browser and access the
007Schoolment portal. If you are new, click sign or create account or use your login information from the previous year. Once inside, click on start application or new application. Follow each section carefully. When instructed, upload all necessary documents. Make sure the files are clear and readable. Please carefully check that the entire application is complete and that all documents are attached. Click submit to complete your application. If you need to make changes to your application, be sure to complete them before the draw takes place, as subsequent modifications could affect the original status of the application. After submitting the request, you will receive a confirmation message via your selected contact method, either email or text message. We recommend selecting both methods, as the system will be able to send more detailed information. You can apply to several schools
008and programs, so explore your options and choose what's best for your student. Now [clears throat] let's go over the steps for families applying for the BPI program. Due to the specific requirements of the program, the BPI process includes some additional steps to confirm eligibility and provide support. Families must complete the telephone assessment between November and early January to determine eligibility. Once confirmed, an appointment will be scheduled with Arlington staff to submit the required documents and complete the application in person. The list of required documents is available on the BPI website. Only completed and submitted applications will be eligible to participate in the February drawing. Each family can have only one account and each student only one profile on Zumet. Incomplete or duplicate applications will be cancelled. Applications can be completed using only a phone number
009or email address in English or Spanish. For current students, please contact your admissions officer or welcome center for support. New students can contact the welcome center for assistance with their application. For specific details about each program, attend an information session, watch the information videos, or contact the school you are interested in directly. On the day of the draw, a virtual draw will be held via Schoolment. In this system, neither the staff administering the draw nor the families know who will be selected, ensuring that the process is completely impartial and random. It's like drawing names at random from a hat, but with extra steps to ensure everything is done correctly and that no one can influence the outcome. Families will be able to see the draw in real time according to school level, along with the
010number of students on the waiting list. However, no specific student information will be shared . Schumen generates a unique identification number for each student, but this is only used for the lottery. It is not an official Arlington ID and is not used for any purpose other than the fair and confidential sorting process. After the draw, families will receive notifications indicating whether their student received a place or was placed on a waiting list. If your student is on the waitlist, you will receive a general notification from schoolment. Log in to Schoolment to check your position number on the waiting list, as this number may change. Arlington will send a notification if and when a space becomes available. If a student is offered a place, it is essential to accept or decline the offer before the deadline.
011If the deadline is missed, the offer will be automatically cancelled. The first phase allows two weeks to accept a place. Subsequent assignments will have a 5-day period to be accepted. or rejected. Accepting a place removes the student from all other waiting lists and any other previous assignments. Submitting an application to Schoolments for an optional program is not the same as enrolling a student at Arlington. If your student is new to Arlington, they must enroll in school before the deadline. To register, contact your school's registration officer and submit the required documents. Each Arlington program has a specific order of priority for the lottery. Visit the website for more details on program priorities, which may change each year. Thank you for joining us. We've reviewed Arlington's name lottery process, the steps to submit an application, enrollment requirements,
012and program priorities. For support, call the welcome center or optional school of your interest or submit your question online. Yeah.