As we enter a new year, students across the nation are preparing to continue their education in a new semester. It is a fresh start as students prepare for spring registration.

In the Public Schools of Robeson County, registration affects 10,000 students. For educators, registration is a critical time

as they look at student courses, double check graduation requirements and decide how master schedules will be developed.

This means educators will look at how the more than 9,000 students will transition into the upper grades as the seniors

graduate.

High school students across the district are now taking finals from their first semester of this school year. Students registered last spring. Now it is a matter of testing. If students pass those finals, they move forward to classes. If a student fails, they have the opportunity to retake that class or another course equivalent.

Students need 28 credits to graduate. They may register for up to eight classes per year — four classes in the spring and four classes in the fall.

Transcripts are currently being evaluated during this process as school administrators and the staff make sure ninth-through 11th-graders are meeting course credits. For graduating seniors there is also a push to measure whether they have all their credits to graduate on schedule. If not, their schedule is re-worked to accommodate those required classes.

From February through May, students register online for classes with school counselor assistance and teacher recommendations.

Today all registration materials, classes and course description are available online for parents and students to review. The registration process is set up through the counseling department. As school administrators, counselors and teachers prepare for student registration, the planning includes scheduling enough teachers and determining the right sections for each child. The registration process takes three months.

Even when the master schedule is complete, the work continues during the summer with transfers, teacher certification and making sure the class numbers balance.

While each school normally has one counselor per almost 400 students, it is key for parents to help their children look at their schedules, available classes and their Future Ready Checklist. Parents can monitor their students’ progress by accessing the Future4Kids website. There is a checklist, high school graduation requirements, academic scholar requirements and career and technical information.

Parents should also look at the value of honors, AP and online classes. These rigorous courses set the groundwork for higher education and better prepare students for college.

At the school parent night, parents can get a walk-through on the registration process and the items that are available to their children.

Parent night is hosted at each high school or middle school once a semester.

PSRC will host a county-wide registration meeting on Feb. 4 for all high school and middle school principals, counselors and content area supervisors. These meetings will make sure the process for 2013-14 is seamless.

Over the next three months, parents should be diligent that students are registered and maintaining a pace to be ready for their schoolwork.

Each school will send out or post information on the Parent Night registration.

Johnny Hunt is the superintendent of the Public Schools of Robeson County.