Tag Archives: Dual Language Programs

Welcome Back To School!

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It’s been a minute since I posted up here, so I figured it was time to reconnect and say, Hello, Los Angeles. How are you?

I have been working exclusively on Zoom for consultations as well as group talks, and have met some incredible families. I really enjoy meeting all of you and making a strategic admissions plan specifically catered to each child and each situation. From new parents trying to decide if they should adopt a TK program or wait another year, to tweens worried about finding the right middle school, to supporting our surly teenagers through those challenging high school years wondering if they will find their footing… and with everything going sideways over the past couple of years and our world continuing to churn, I have met with and supported so many of you and your children. I feel honored to be able to, in my small way, connect and assist families, by bringing clarity and a way forward through one of the most confusing systems during one of the most tumultuous time periods.

With another fall admissions season quickly approaching, I have announced a new lineup of fresh LIVE webinars. Just click over to my GoMamaGuide webinar series for all the details and to grab a ticket.

Weds, August 27, 2025 at 12p *LIVE*

Weds, Sept 3, 2025 at 12p *LIVE*

Weds, Sept 10 at 12p *LIVE*

Weds, Sept 24 at 12p *LIVE*

View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series in more detail, and purchase tickets HERE.

If all of this stresses you out and you just need immediate one-on-one assistance, let’s set up a Zoom Consultation together and create a personalized admissions strategy just for your child. Please note that Fall Admissions season is my busiest time of year.

I recently made the decision to retire my GoMamaGuidance newsletter – which started out as a monthly 15 years ago, then went to a quarterly, then eventually went dormant. To be honest, I just couldn’t keep up with it, and respect that you probably enjoy one less thing in your inbox.

Looking backwards, I realize I am coming up on the 20th anniversary of the launch of GoMamaGuide, which, frankly, is just astounding to me. 20 years! It was all quite by accident.

My daughter – who was the impetus for learning all of this – successfully navigated K-12 public schools in LAUSD (there was no TK back then), launched her way to college during the Covid lockdowns, graduated with honors from a top east coast university, is halfway through grad school, and has signed with a top firm for next summer. Bravo to her for finding her grit, her passion, her work ethic, and a way forward.

I’ll wrap up here for today, but more to come in this space as I reflect forwards, and backwards.

GoMamaGuide Webinars Now Available!

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We’re heading into the final few weeks of the on-time LAUSD Choices lotteries, due Friday, November 17, 2023 for the 2024-25 school year.

Many of you have been asking about my webinars, and yes, all of them are now available on demand to watch at your convenience. These are content-dense LIVE recordings with the latest info. Just click on the webinar you want, purchase a ticket, and I will personally email you a special link and passcode to access the replay. Each ticket comes with a 14-day replay so you can watch and review at your own convenience.

View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series in more detail, and purchase tickets HERE.

All webinar tickets come with a 14-day replay. 
View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series.

If all of this stresses you out and you just need immediate one-on-one assistance, let’s set up a Zoom Consultation together and create a personalized admissions strategy just for your child. Please note that Fall Admissions season is my busiest time of year.

Last LIVE Kindergarten 101 Webinar This Fall! Weds October 25

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New Date Just Added!

Many of you have been asking about my webinars, so I am adding a final fall LIVE date for my most requested webinar, Kindergarten 101, just in time before the LAUSD Choices deadline hits. This talk will have all the latest information, including the new and expanding age eligibility for Transitional Kindergarten (TK), and what that may mean going forward.

Announcing, Kindergarten 101: Know Your Public Options
*LIVE* Weds, October 25, 2023
12p
$35
TICKET
After you purchase your ticket, you will be sent to Zoom to register for your unique login. (Don’t skip this step or you’ll miss out!)

This is a LIVE webinar, where you can ask me your questions in person, and/or watch the replay afterwards at your own convenience.

Stressed about choosing a Kindergarten?
For families just getting started, in this 90 minute webinar we’ll go over how (and when) to begin the elementary school admissions process, the new TK/K age eligibility changes, Magnets and “That Point System” demystified, Charters and other tuition-free options, what to look for in a school, and more! This is chock full of info and my most popular talk. Parents will walk away with a solid understanding of what public school options are available to them, how and when to apply, and the tools they need to make a choice they can feel good about, especially given our large and complicated public school system *Recommended for parents of 3-5 year olds. Each webinar comes with a 14-day replay so you can watch on your own timeline.

If all of this stresses you out and you just need one-on-one assistance, let’s set up a Zoom Consultation. Please note that Fall Admissions season is my busiest time of year.

New Fall 2023 Webinar Lineup! Launching Thurs, Sept 14!

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Just in time for the Fall LAUSD public school Choices or “Unified Enrollment” lotteries, I’m rolling out a fresh new series of live webinars with the latest information, breaking down exactly what you need to know, in order to successfully navigate the complex menu of public school options here in Los Angeles. These are live, interactive webinars with Q&A. If you can’t make the live, or want to review the material again, each ticket comes with a 14-day replay, so you can watch and review when it’s convenient for you.

Click on the webinar ticket link you want to purchase. After checkout you will be taken to Zoom to complete your registration. Don’t skip that step or you will miss out. To view the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series in more detail, visit: https://gomamaguide.com/store/webinars

Navigating the School System:
The Overview
Thurs, Sept 14, 2023 
12p
$35
TICKETS


Kindergarten 101: Know Your Public Options
Weds, Sept 20, 2023 
12p
$35
TICKETS
(Yes we’ll cover the new TK/K ages)

Middle School Madness
Weds, Sept 27, 2023
12p
$35
TICKETS


Mastering Magnets:
(Those Points!)
Tues, Oct 3, 2023
12p
$35
TICKETS

All webinar tickets come with a 14-day replay. 
View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series. 

If all of this gives you a headache and you just need one-on-one assistance, let’s set up a Zoom Consultation. Please note that Fall Admissions season is my busiest time of year.

New Kinder 101 Date Just Added! Webinar Replays Now Available!

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We are in full-on Fall Admissions season, with the LAUSD Choices lotteries accepting applications now through November 18, for the 2023-24 school year. Many of you have been asking about my webinars, or missed my previous series, so I am adding a new LIVE date for my most requested webinar, just in time before the deadline. This will have the latest information, including the new and expanding age eligibility for Transitional Kindergarten and what that may mean going forward.

Announcing, Kindergarten 101: Know Your Public Options
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 12p.
This is a content-dense LIVE webinar, where you can ask me your questions in person, and/or also watch the replay afterwards at your own convenience.

Kindergarten 101: Know Your Public Options
Weds, Nov 2, 2022 
12p – *LIVE*
$35
TICKETS

After you purchase your ticket, you will be sent to Zoom to register for your unique login. (Don’t skip this step or you’ll miss out!)

GoMamaGuide Fall Webinar Series – Replays Now Available!

If you missed the other webinars in my series, replays are now available. Just click on the webinar you want, purchase a ticket, and I will email you a special passcode to access the replay. Be patient. I am a human, not a robot.

Each webinar comes with a 10-day replay so you can watch at your own convenience.

Navigating the School System: 
The Overview
Replay Now Available!
$35
TICKETS

Middle School Madness
Replay Now Available!
$35
TICKETS

Mastering Magnets: 
(Those Points!)
Replay Now Available!
$35
TICKETS

After you purchase your ticket, I will email you a special passcode to access the replay. Be patient. I am a human, not a robot.

All webinar tickets now come with a 14-day replay. 
View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series in more detail. 

If all of this stresses you out and you just need one-on-one assistance, let’s set up a Zoom Consultation. Please note that Fall Admissions season is my busiest time of year.

New Fall 2022 Webinar Lineup! Launching This Weds, SEPT 14!

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Just in time for the Fall LAUSD public school Choices or “Unified Enrollment” lotteries, I’m rolling out a fresh new series of live “Lunch and Learn” webinars breaking down exactly what you need to know in order to successfully navigate the complex menu of public school options here in Los Angeles. These are live, interactive webinars with Q&A. If you can’t make the live, or want to review the material again, each ticket comes with a 7-day replay, so you can watch and review when it’s convenient for you.

Click on the webinar picture you want to purchase. After checkout you will be taken to Zoom to complete your registration. Don’t skip that step or you will miss out. To view the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series in more detail, visit: https://gomamaguide.com/store/webinars

Navigating the School System:
The Overview
Weds, Sept 14, 2022 
12p
$35
TICKETS

Kindergarten 101: Know Your Public Options
Weds, Sept 21, 2022 
12p
$35
TICKETS

Middle School Madness
Weds, Sept 28, 2022
12p
$35
TICKETS

Mastering Magnets:
(Those Points!)
Wednesday, Oct 5, 2022
12p
$35
TICKETS

All webinar tickets come with a 7-day replay. 
View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series. 

If all of this gives you a headache and you just need one-on-one assistance, let’s set up a Zoom Consultation. Please note that Fall Admissions season is my busiest time of year.

The Latest

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Hope you’re all doing well. Just thought I’d post a couple of updates here.

Late Apps [for LAUSD Choices categories] are in full swing right now if you missed the on-time November deadline, or want to add additional selections to your spread. Each selection will be submitted individually, time-stamped, and added to the end of the on-time waitlist. You will not receive any waitlist points on a Late App Magnet, however you just might win a seat.

Many Independent Charters have deadlines coming up right around this time. Each are submitted individually at each school’s website. If you miss the deadline, you can ask to submit a late app and be added to the end of the on-time waitlist.

Permitting – both within (intra) and leaving the district (inter) – are ongoing right now.

Upcoming Dates of Note:
Mon, March 14, 2022 – initial results of the LAUSD Choices lotteries are posted

Fri, April 8, 2022 – LAUSD Choices Accept/Decline Deadline

Mon, April 11 – Fri, April 15, 2022 – LAUSD Spring Break; schools and offices closed

Mon, April 18, 2022 – Waitlists start to move! (This is just the beginning of a very long process)

Weds, April 27, 2022 – Open Enrollment opens – always a few gems on that list

…AND we still don’t have a START DATE for LAUSD’s 2022-2023 school year. The Board of Ed may vote on this in March, but no official word just yet.


Webinars – The Basics
For those of you who are just getting started, are fairly overwhelmed with how things work around here (who isn’t), want to learn all about “those points!,” or need to get some good foundational learning done before we work on your personalized admissions strategy, I have made my most popular webinars available to you as replays. Introducing The GoMamaGuide Basics Webinar Series – grab a ticket and learn on your own timeline. Get the lay-of-the-land before we meet.

Just Announced
And for those of you with kids in High School, don’t miss this upcoming live FREE webinar, What You Need To Know NOW About Paying Less For College
with Cyndi Menegaz of SMARTTRACK® College Funding
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 12p
*Highly Recommended for parents of 8th-11th graders. Read the scoop HERE.
Register HERE.

Need HELP?
I have been quietly working away in my cubicle helping as many families as I can with their public school queries during these trying times. I know it’s difficult with no on-site tours, and no fresh school data, still. If you need assistance, reach out to schedule a Zoom or Phone or Relocation Consultation with me, and let’s talk school.

Ok folks, hang in there!

New Fall Webinar Lineup! Launching This Friday OCT 15!

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Just in time for the Fall LAUSD public school Choices or “Unified Enrollment” lotteries, I’m rolling out a series of webinars breaking down exactly what you need to know in order to successfully navigate the complex menu of public school options here in Los Angeles. These are live, interactive webinars with Q&A. If you can’t make the live, or want to review the material again, each ticket comes with a 7-day replay, so you can watch it when it’s convenient for you.

Click on the webinar picture you want to purchase. After checkout you will be taken to Zoom to complete your registration. Don’t skip that step or you will miss out. To view the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series in more detail, visit: https://gomamaguide.com/store/webinars

Mastering Magnets: Everything You Need to Know (Those Points!)
Friday, October 15, 2021
12p
$35
TICKETS


Kindergarten 101:
Know Your Public Options
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
12p
$35
TICKETS

Understanding Gifted Options
SAS, GHA, HG, HGA, IHP…
Thursday, October 21, 2021
12p
$35
TICKETS

Middle School Madness
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
12p
$35
TICKETS

All webinar tickets come with a 7-day replay.
View the whole GoMamaGuide webinar series. 

Choices Accept/Decline Deadline Extended One Week; Waitlisted Webinar Weds April 7

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Heads up! LAUSD has extended the Choices Accept/Decline Deadline by one week to Friday, April 16th. That means that those lucky winners have more time to mull over their offers, head over to their dashboard, and make their decisions. It also means that you waitlisted folks will be hanging on a week longer, because those lists won’t start to move now until AFTER April 16th. Waitlists will continue to move through the spring, summer, and up through the 4th week of school.

(LAUSD “Fall” start date still tbd…Aug 3, Aug 10, Aug 17??? Stay tuned. Or read THIS.)

In the interim, I have rescheduled my WAITLISTED? Now What! webinar for Wednesday, April 7th at 12p. In this 60 minute webinar, I’ll walk you through how to navigate multiple offers in multiple categories, how certain offers impact other offers, what happens when you’re waitlisted everywhere, late offers, creating a back-up plan, and basically how to mentally prep for and survive LA’s public school Lotterypalooza. This is a live event and I will be taking your questions. *Recommended for all lottery-playing parents.

Waitlisted! Now What?
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12p
$35

Grab your seat HERE.

Last Day for LAUSD eChoices App!

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Hey my LAUSD folks,

Just a friendly reminder that today is the LAST DAY to get your eChoices application in before tonight’s 11:59p deadline. If you haven’t gotten your application in yet, take a moment, go up there, and DO IT NOW. Don’t be late.

The eChoices application includes lottery selections for Magnets, Dual Language programs, Schools for Advanced Studies, and (new for 2020), Affiliated Charter Schools for elementary students, and for secondary students, all those categories plus Permits With Transportation, and Admission Criteria Schools. Six categories all from one app!

If you have already submitted your application, you might want to log onto your parent dashboard and review your selections today, making sure all the schools you wanted are listed and prioritized exactly how you want them to be. This is the last day you can make any edits to your application, such as reorder the priority (1st-2nd-3rd) of your choices, or drop/add some choices. Whatever is on your application at 11:59p this evening, is what is being submitted, but you can still make changes up until tonight’s deadline.

***Heads up, the SAS Verification of Eligibility Form is due by 5p tonight, not 11:59p.

How Do I Check My eChoices App and/or Make Changes?

Log onto your dashboard with your email and password at eChoices.lausd.net or apply.lausd.net. (They both will arrive at the same place.)

Once you are logged in with your password, you will be at your dashboard. (If you are just getting started for the first time, you will “Apply to Programs” and follow the prompts to select your choices in each category.) If you have already put in an application and want to give it a final once over before tonight’s deadline, click on “Track/Edit Applications” to review what you have previously submitted.

 

 

 

 

Then you will see each of your children’s current applications, and you can click on one to open it up and view it. Make sure it is exactly how you want it.

 

 

 

 

If you want to add/drop/reorder anything, this is your chance. Do it here. Remember to hit SAVE at the bottom when you are done.

 

 

 

 

Once you submit your app again, you should see your confirmation number and get an auto-email alert from “applyforschools@lausd.net” with your submission confirmation. Review everything again to make sure it caught all your changes.

Repeat for each sibling.

This is it. Only on-time applications are eligible for waitlist points in the magnet category, and have the best odds overall in the lotteries. Don’t be late.

Also, don’t wait until 11:57p tonight to try to cram your app in. You know the LAUSD server will be busy!

Also, you’ve had 6 1/2 weeks to get this done.

Wishing everyone the best possible outcome in the lotteries!

Thank you for participating.

I will be offline for the weekend and will be back at my desk on Monday.

Cheers y’all!

xo