Greetings,

It’s hard to believe that we are well into the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year and that it’s the time of year when CMSD families are deciding on the CMSD schools they want their children to attend next school year.

As a portfolio district, we have developed a variety of models, at both the K-8 and high school levels, and let our families choose the ones that will best fit their student’s needs.   I encourage families and caregivers to contact individual schools and learn more about what they have to offer, or go to clevelandmetroschools.org/schools and explore school websites.

Families can submit selections at choosecmsd.org. Just a reminder the online portal will close temporarily at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13, for the first round of school assignments, as well as lotteries in cases where applications exceed the number of available seats. The portal will reopen on March 30.

Also remember that to be eligible for Say Yes to Education scholarships, students must be continuously enrolled in a CMSD high school and live in the District or city of Cleveland from ninth grade until graduation. The scholarships pay up to the full value of tuition, minus federal and state aid, at all public colleges, universities and Pell-eligible training programs in Ohio and more than 100 private colleges and universities across the country. For more detailed information check out the Say Yes Cleveland website.

For parents of seniors headed to postsecondary education, it is time to help them fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA is a requirement for receiving Say Yes scholarships, other scholarships and grants and your school counselors and College Now advisors are available to assist.  If you need more information, please go to the FAFSA website.

The road to college and career begins in preschool, a critical time in brain formation and development of skills such as communication and teamwork. CMSD offers free preschool, highly rated by the state for quality, at sites across the city. Call 216-838-0110 for more information.

While we stay intensely focused on the current school year, I also want to encourage families to set aside time for participation in the 2020 U.S. Census.  The Cleveland area is one of the most undercounted regions in the country for school-age children, second only to Chicago.

Undercounting cut cuts into federal funding we receive from programs that are based on child population. Each year, CMSD benefits from dollars set aside for vital purposes such as special education services, school lunches and Head Start programming.

Federal law protects the privacy of individuals worried about disclosing personal information. The Census also brings temporary jobs that pay more than $20 an hour in Cuyahoga County. Visit the 2020 Census website for more information.

We look forward to working for and with you to ensure your child’s success now and in the future.

Sincerely,