Marblehead METCO Representatives Encourage Program Applications

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead Public Schools representatives were among the districts on hand at the recent METCO Showcase event encouraging Boston families to apply to attend suburban schools through a newly streamlined process.

METCO program intern Mackenzie Kane and METCO Program Director Caja Johnson were at the Showcase held at the Reggie Lews Track & Athletic Center in Roxbury

This year's Showcase highlighted the program's revamped application process and provided the opportunity for families to sign up. Parents and children also visited with representatives of participating school districts, took photos with Wally the Green Monster, explored community agency services and opportunities, and enjoyed free pizza and DJ music.

Families no longer need to provide past school records for the METCO application process. They only need their child's birth certificate, parent-guardian ID and proof of Boston residency.

Parents can also choose up to three suburban school districts, ranking them in order of preference. Children are no longer assigned arbitrability to districts.

The simplified METCO enrollment process involved years of intense collaboration with parents, educators, district leaders, Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), which oversees METCO and must approve critical program and policy changes.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)