Setting Up Your School Year

Getting ready for a new school year? Whether your a new or seasoned Spark user, follow these steps to ensure everything runs smoothly in the new year.

1. 📅 Build Your School Calendar

Everything begins with your schedule.

Create your Sessions

• Create one full-year session or multiple sessions (such as Fall and Spring) organized under an Academic Year or Program.
• Define your school day types (regular days, half-days, holidays, breaks, etc.) on the Academic Calendar.
• Add important school events to your Event Calendar.
• Print or share your calendars when you're ready.

2. 👩‍🏫 Add Your Staff

Invite your team before assigning them to classrooms.

• Create staff accounts.
• Choose each staff member's permissions and access level.
• Send portal invitations so they can log in.

3. 🏫 Create Your Classrooms

Build the learning spaces your students will join.

• Create each classroom.
• Assign instructors.
• Set classroom schedules in the Daily Scheduler.
• Add tuition or classroom costs if applicable.

4. 📝 Build Your Enrollment Application

Create the application families will complete.

• Configure your enrollment settings.
• Add program information.
• Customize application questions.
• Attach additional forms if needed (create first in the Forms feature).
• Create enrollment options (such as classrooms or programs).
• Link classroom options to the classrooms you created.
• Add pricing to enrollment options.

5. 🎉 Enroll Students

Start welcoming families.

• Share your enrollment application.
• Review incoming applications.
• Accept applicants.
• Onboard student, guardian, and family information into Spark.
• Place students into their classrooms.

6. 💳 Set Up Billing

Once students are enrolled, you're ready to bill.

• Create or sync billing accounts from enrollment.
• Create charges from enrollment. (These steps can also be accomplished as needed in the billing section)
• Record payments.
• Create invoices or installment plans as needed.

7. 🔑 Connect Families

Help everyone access their Spark portals.

Guardian Portal

• Learn more: https://www.sparkyourschool.com/help/for-guardians-and-students/guardian-portal

Student Portal

• Learn more: https://www.sparkyourschool.com/help/for-guardians-and-students/student-portal

8. 🎓 Train Your Staff

Make sure your team is ready before the first day.

• Staff Getting Started Guide:
  https://www.sparkyourschool.com/help/intro/how-do-i-get-started#getting-started-for-staff
• Schedule a personalized training session by contacting hello@sparkschools.co.

✅ You're Ready!

Once you've completed these steps, you'll be ready to:

• Take attendance
• Assign coursework
• Communicate with families
• Collect tuition
• Track student progress
• Start the school year with confidence