The Contract Season Recap

Derek Nichols

The end of the year, to the beginning of the next is typically incredibly busy for schools and students alike. There are a lot of pieces to running a successful contract season, so in case you missed our three part special, here’s a recap!For schools, “Contract Season” is a very busy time, and while it’s likely winding down at this point, there’s still a lot to say on the subject. Last November, we released the first of a three part series on this very subject.

The goal of the Contract Season series was essentially to highlight some important elements as well as offer tips and tricks. Better yet, each section was released with details pertinent to when schools would likely need them for that phase of contracts. While the final part of the series was released in February, we’re releasing this all-in-one recap in case you missed any of the parts or want to bookmark it ahead of time for this year’s contract rush. We all know it comes quick.

Part 1 – Setup and Preparation
Originally released back in November 2021, the first part of our Contract Season series focused on the setup, data verification, and things to keep in mind. This phase is critical to avoiding headaches later, so ensuring that not only your data is ready to go, but your system is set up correctly can save tons of effort and time.

This blog covers all the things to watch out for, specific data points to verify, and even covers what to do with integrated contracts. Take a look at the full post here.

Part 2 – Communication
In January 2022, we turned our focus to communication and how to effectively get what you need from families. This covers topics like making sure to set clear deadlines, setting expectations, and other “gotchas” that may crop up.

In addition, part 2 also covered additional data fields that should be prioritized for validation like School Programs, which have a higher likelihood of changing after initial setup. The post also features a ton of additional resources to check out, so make sure to have a look.

Part 3 – Getting Support
Look, we understand that you can’t plan for everything. Even through best efforts and preparation, you may run into trouble. So, for Part 3, we looked at the most common errors and issues that can come up during Contract Season and how to fix them.

Obviously, not everything is solvable through a blog, and that’s where our support team comes in. While the team is always standing by to assist, there are some things you can do before calling in that will not only be a massive help but may solve your issue quicker. This blog puts together a list of information to gather before calling in, such as when the issue started, who or what is it impacting, and more. Check out the final part right here.

We hope this information came in handy for you this season, or if you’re just coming across it now, hopefully it provides a smooth upcoming season. Thanks for reading and we’ll see you next week!