How to Guide

How do I enroll a student?

• Go to the main office of your neighborhood school to fill out paperwork. 
• Or, fill out the online application here.

How do I register my student to ride the bus?

• Log onto Skyward Family Access to register your student or call your school’s secretary.
• Watch our how-to video here.

How many days until my student can attend school after enrolling?

Typically within 24 hours after the completion of paperwork.

How do I get a school calendar to know when school is open and closed? 

• You can find the dates and hours that your child’s school is in session by going here. Scroll down to view the school calendar or download a PDF to print off for your refrigerator. 
• The school secretary can also provide you with this information

Where can I find information on school closures and delays due to weather?

• On the district website here. Any weather-related information affecting the school day will be posted by 6 a.m.
• Sign up for our Remind text and email alerts.
• Have messages delivered to your email or cell phone text message by signing up at Flash Alert here.  If you sign up, remember to keep your information updated.

How do I look up absences and other attendance policies?

• District absence policies can be found on the district website here.
• You can see how many absences your student has by signing up to use Family Access. This is part of our district’s student information system known as Skyward.
• School secretaries are also able to check your student’s absences for parents and guardians with names on file.

How do I sign up for Remind text or email alerts?

• See our Remind page here.

How do I inform the school that my child will be absent? 

Each school tracks the reason a student is absent or tardy.  Please let them know why your child is absent or tardy and if there is anything we can do to help.

Here are all the ways you can excuse an absence:

• Call the school attendance office,
• Send an email to the school attendance office,
• Send a note with your child when he or she returns to school.  This could be a doctor’s note or a note from you with the reason why your child was absent. 
• Visit your school's website for contact information.

What is Skyward, and how do I access it?

Skyward is a program that the Longview School District has for parents and students to use.  You can access grades, lunch accounts, attendance, family information, and more.

If you haven’t used Skyward yet, you’ll need to sign up for an account.

• Go to the district website here.
• Click on Family Access Application and fill out the Google form, then click Submit.
• An account will be created for you, and you will be sent login information.

Once you have an account, you can access it from here.

Where can I find out what acronyms, like IEP, mean?
On the Longview Public School website here.  This includes a list of words or letters and tells you what they mean.

How do I sign up to get email notices from the school?

• When you sign your student up for school, give the office your email address.  
• You can also give your school secretary your email address at any time.  Please update any information if it changes.
• For emergency notifications, you can sign up for Remind text and email notices.

How can I communicate with a teacher or find their email address?

• Go to the district website here, search for your school, then Staff Directory.  When you find your teacher’s name, there will be a link to their email.
• You can leave a message for a teacher at your school’s office with a phone call or by dropping into the office in person.

How do I schedule a meeting with my child’s principal?

• You can talk to your school secretary directly to set up a meeting with the principal.
• Call the office of your school and leave a message for the principal.
• Email the school secretary and ask to have a meeting with the principal.

How do I find the school year calendar?

• The school year calendar is available on the district website here.
• You can also get the school year calendar from your school secretary.

Is there a place to access school events, like field trip information?

On the district website here you can look up information about your school under the Schools tab.

How can I connect with other parents at my child’s school?
Below is the list of ways you can connect with other parents.  Check your school’s website for more information.

• Go to a PTA/PTO meeting
• Attend a family night or other school events
• Check for messages on Facebook at: facebook.com/LongviewSchools
• Sign your student up for after-school activities and sports

What should I do if I have a complaint about something happening in my child’s school?

We encourage parents and families to work closely with school staff to resolve any concerns they may have at their school.   This provides the parent/guardian and staff members the opportunity to work together and to form relationships needed to help support students throughout the school year.  A vast majority of complaints can be handled at the school level and simply need to be brought to the attention of staff, who may not be aware of your concerns.

If a complaint is not resolved by working directly with the staff member, parents are encouraged to contact the principal and request a meeting. 

What should I do if my child is being harassed, bullied or intimidated? 

The safety and wellbeing of our students is a top priority. We encourage parents and students to report these types of persistent behaviors to a staff member and principal, so the school can investigate the matter. 

For more information about reporting these types of behaviors, see Policy and Procedure 3207 Prohibition of Harassment Intimidation and Bullying.

Who do I contact with questions or concerns about bus transportation?  
Call the Transportation department at (360) 575-7865

How do I register my student to ride the bus?

• Log onto Skyward Family Access to register your student or call your school’s secretary.
• We ask that all students riding the Longview Public Schools bus system register through Skyward to ride the bus. 

How do I make sure my child’s school has all the information about any medical needs?

• Provide any prescription information or directions from your child’s doctor to the school nurse or Health Room assistant.  
• If medicine needs to be given at school, contact the school nurse to make the arrangements.  You will need to sign paperwork to give permission.
• Be sure to update the school on any medicine changes or medical issues if anything changes.

How do I contact or make an appointment with my child’s school counselor?

You can find out the name of your school counselor from the secretary at your child’s school.  If you need to make an appointment with the counselor, leave a message with the school secretary.

How do I reach my child when they are in their classroom at school?
Contact the office at your child’s school. They are happy to help you reach your child.

How do I sign up to become a volunteer?
We welcome parent volunteers. For safety and security purposes, all volunteers must fill out a volunteer form here.

How do I get a translator to help me communicate with school staff members?
The district has an interpreting service that you can use for telephone calls or for face-to-face meetings.  Contact your school liaison or secretary for assistance with translation.

Where can I find information about school liaisons?
Ask your school secretary who your liaison is and their contact information or check your school’s webpage.

Do all students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) have a case manager?
Yes, they do.  If you need to find out who your child’s case manager is, you can contact the school counselor. 

Who do I contact when I feel my child needs more support at school?
Please make sure to talk to your school principal first. Depending on what support or service may be needed, you can go to the district website here. Once you have chosen the department it will list the phone number and person to contact.  

How do we assist homeless families?

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states to support district programs serving homeless students. Learn more about homelessness assistance here. 

How do I fill out a student housing form?

Each school year you will be provided with a student housing form. Student housing forms are available in English and Spanish. You can also pick one up any time at your school or get one from a family liaison, secretary, or counselor.

What is Child Find? 
Child Find is a process designed to locate children, from birth through age 21, with a suspected disability to evaluate and identify a need for special education and related services. Longview Public Schools conducts specific activities to locate, evaluate, and identify students ages birth to twenty-one with suspected disabilities and who reside within the district’s boundaries. Children, birth through age 5, whose family or caregivers would like more information about their child’s development, can contact the Longview Pre-school program at (360) 575-7006 to discuss the process and receive a free Child Find Screening.

How do I find help within the community to get backpacks and school supplies, emergency food, clothing and hygiene products, and other services?

• Directly contact the Longview Public Schools Homeless and Foster Care Liaison at (360) 575-7767.
• Go to the Longview School District website here.