It's the most wonderful time of the year.... NOT!

So we have entered into that time of year again....
No not the Holiday / Fall season,
NJ SMART October 15th Special Ed Submission season.

This is by far undoubtedly the busiest time of the year for myself and my coworkers at my company. The company I work for is a software development company that creates and maintains student information systems and databases for NJ public, private, charter and non-public school districts with in New Jersey.

I specialize in the Special Education Management Module (SEMM) and it's during this time of the year that our lively hood, sanity, patience and knowledge is tested to the fullest. Every October 15th all NJ public school districts are required to take a "SnapShot" of their current special ed students' data at that moment. They then export to NJSmart where they more than likely get a bunch of errors, based on mistakes in dates and data made throughout the year.

From September 1st until October 15th we suggest and support the districts to clean up their data to prevent these errors from being reported, which ultimately can help lower the likelihood of them being audited by the state. The amount of research that goes in to my team and myself knowing the state code, mandates and special situation exclusions is overwhelming, but we do it and we do it well.

I like my clients to feel comfortable calling me first before the state and we have the correct answer for them. The rules and code change frequently year to year so we are always learning more and more.

The users have the whole year to clean up there data and run trial submissions to make sure they are error free. We now have 5 days left until the final submission deadline, and we have all hands on deck so to speak, with 3 of those fives days being an extended holiday weekend due to Columbus Day.

Being a full time Graduate Student,  Full Time Worker and Full Time Homemaker during our busiest season of the year is difficult, but so far so good... ask me again on Tuesday and I might not have the same response.

You have to remember to keep your balance in all the craziness, and see the light at the end of the tunnel.... TGIF

If you are interested in how some of the NJ Smart Submissions work take a look at the NJSmart webpage.