Academics · Subject Resources

Three schools, three deadlines.
One list.

Applying to a private, charter or magnet school means a different stack of papers for each one: report cards from the current school, a birth certificate, an essay, letters from teachers, maybe an aid form. Add each school, mark what it asks for and what is done, and track the people writing recommendations. The checklist counts the days and flags what is late.

Add a schoolWhat you get

Applications

The worked example is made up: an independent school due in 12 days, a charter lottery in January and a magnet program whose deadline just passed. Saved on this device only.

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What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per school: name, kind, entry grade, deadline, fee, ten documents marked done, to do or not asked for, and each recommender with the date asked and status. Works out documents done, days to the deadline and letters outstanding; flags near deadlines with work left, passed deadlines, letters asked for late and letters not yet sent.
Who it is for
Families applying to private, religious, charter, magnet or other choice schools for a child of any age.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per school. Prints one school’s checklist, every school in a table or a blank checklist; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Add each school and its deadline.
  2. Mark documents it does not ask for.
  3. Ask the current school for records early.
  4. Ask recommenders at least three weeks ahead.
  5. Check the list each week until every deadline.

Add a school

What schools ask for

Who asks for whatKind of schoolUsually asks forIndependentRecords, test, essays, letters, aidReligiousRecords, letters, sometimes a testCharterForm, proof of age and addressMagnetRecords, scores, sometimes a testWho asks for whatIndependentUsually asks for: Records, test, essays, letters, aidReligiousUsually asks for: Records, letters, sometimes a testCharterUsually asks for: Form, proof of age and addressMagnetUsually asks for: Records, scores, sometimes a test
Every school sets its own list. Use this as a starting point and mark anything a school does not ask for.

Records take time

Report cards and transcripts come from the child’s current school, often through a records office. Ask a month ahead. Under federal privacy law (FERPA), parents can see their child’s education records and the school must respond to a request within 45 days, though most act much faster.

Letters of recommendation

Teachers write many letters in the fall. Ask at least three weeks before the deadline, in person or by email, and give them the deadline, how to submit and a short note on what the child is proud of. Thank them afterwards and tell them where the child got in.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Education. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 34 CFR 99.10: right to inspect education records within 45 days.
  2. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Know your rights: students with disabilities in public charter schools (ed.gov).
  3. National Association of Independent Schools. Admission and financial aid process for families (nais.org).
  4. National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. How charter school enrollment and lotteries work (publiccharters.org).

The worked example is made up. Each school sets its own requirements and deadlines; its admission office has the final word. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.