On Mondays in the month of August, the District will share a weekly Back-to-School Checklist to help families prepare for the first day of school on Monday, August 31. The Back-to-School Checklist will be shared via email, shaker.org and on social media. 

This week’s three checklist items: 

• Complete Your Student’s Annual Update Online

• Purchase the Optional Chromebook Protection Plan (for families with students who have a District-issued Chromebook)

• Apply for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch

Learn more about each checklist item below:

Complete Your Student’s Annual Update Online

Before the start of school each year, we ask that families complete the online Annual Update to ensure that the District has your family’s current phone numbers, mailing address, email addresses, emergency contacts and other important information about your student. Completing the Annual Update is especially important this year as we will begin the year with remote learning for all students.

Families may begin the Annual Update process online on Monday, August 10. 

• Families with returning students in grades K-12 must complete the online annual update (this includes families with incoming kindergarten students who attended a District preschool program in 2019-2020). 

• Families with newly registered students in grades K-12 do not need to complete the online Annual Update, as long as the information provided at the time of registration is still current.

All families will receive a separate email from [email protected] with the subject line "Annual Update Not Completed" for each Shaker Heights Schools student registered in your household. This email will contain your family’s username and password. 

Completing the Annual Update is easy: 

• Visit gateway.shaker.org 

• Your username is the student ID number of the youngest District student in the household

• Your password is the youngest returning grade K-12 student’s 8-digit date of birth without spaces or marks (mmddyyyy) 

You may review Completing the Annual Update for detailed instructions. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the Annual Update, please contact your child's building. You may also call 216-295-4293, or email [email protected].

• Three accidental damage claims  (e.g. broken screen, liquid damage, missing keys)

• One lost device replacement

• One stolen device replacement

• One lost AC adapter replacement 

While this fee is optional, the District strongly recommends that families purchase the plan. Chromebooks not covered by the Protectional Plan will be subject to the following charges:

• Damage repair — $30 per repair

• Replacement AC adapter — $30 per replacement

• Complete Chromebook replacement due to loss, theft or damage — $274 

Families whose students already have a District-issued Chromebook from the last school year will see this optional fee loaded into their PayForIt accounts (log in to your account and click on the “Fee” menu). You may purchase the plan at any time.  

For the 2020-21 school year, please note:

• All students in Grades 6-12, as well as students who requested a District-issued device last spring, should keep their Chromebooks.

• The District will issue Chromebooks for all students in Grades 3-12. 

• The District will provide Chromebooks to students in Grades PreK-2 who do not have a dedicated learning device at home. 

We will share information on distribution plans and purchasing the Chromebook Protection Plan for families whose students do not currently have a District-issued Chromebook when it becomes available.

Apply for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch

Shaker Heights Schools encourages all families to submit an application for free- or reduced-price meal eligibility regardless of family income. The percentage of students qualifying for meals is a data point utilized by the federal government to provide the District with certain funds that benefit all students.

Application Information

• Shaker Heights Schools encourages all families who believe they may be eligible to apply. Review these income guidelines to see if you qualify.

• There is no application deadline; families may apply at any time. One application must be completed for each household each school year. To minimize in-person contact and to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are strongly recommending that applications be filled out online. Apply online here.

• If you require assistance with your application or are in need of a translator, please call 216-295-5593 or email Renee Maenner.

• Learn more about Applying for Free/Reduced-Price Meals