Now that you've chosen your schools (if you haven't, read Part I first) it's time to pre-register on line. Pre-registration is optional, but it will save you lots of time when you go to a family resource center to register (more on that in Part III).
To pre-register, go to the BPS pre-registration page. The first time you visit this page you'll need to click the "Create an Account" link. Fill in the required information and click the "Create Account" link at the bottom of the page. An e-mail will be sent to the address you entered and you'll need to click the link in the e-mail to confirm your account.
Once you've done this, you can follow the link to pre-register. You'll need to enter your child's date of birth and the grade he or she will be entering. You'll then be asked to enter your child's name, address, and other information. If you already have a child in a BPS school and would like the child you're registering to attend the same school, be sure to indicate this when asked so that you will receive sibling preference.
You will eventually see a list of schools to which you may apply. Enter a number in the box to the left of each school you wish to apply to. Rank your schools in order of your preference with 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second, etc. The more schools you select the better your chances of getting one of your choices will be.
When you're done, click next. You'll see a summary of the information you provided. Click Submit to confirm the information. You'll then be shown a final screen that you can print and bring with you when you register. Note that even though you will be encouraged to register during a certain week based on your last name that you can actually register any time between January 5th and February 2nd to have the best chance of getting your first choice.
In the third and final part of this series I'll cover gathering up the necessary documents and registering at the family resource center.
