My daughter's high school recently switched to a "nearly paperless" registration process. I still have to write out a bus-transportation eligibility form, but all other registration is done online. 
That's supposed to make it easier. Faster, even. But when I tried to register my daughter for the coming school year, it took me three times as long to complete--and required two emails and three phone calls. And I'm not even talking about the part where I had to type in my last name (all 12 letters of it) no less than 25 times during this process.
The registration program is equipped to handle children who do not live with both of their parents. That's as it should be--but students who do live with both of their parents are jumping through several hoops to register. The program makes it extremely difficult to bypass the "non-custodial parent" section if that section does not apply. The school official who helped me figure out how to complete the form mentioned that she's taken many phone calls from people with the same difficulties I experienced.
The large company behind this registration process claims that its web-based enrollment is efficient, yet I had to fill in all the same information I filled in last year for the same student. It remembered that this student existed, but did not give me the option to simply check a box indicating that I’ve checked to make sure the information is all the same.
All things considered, I think I'd prefer the writer's cramp. Bring back the paper forms! At least then I can skip sections that do not apply.
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