Overview
Display label: Educational Program Category/Specialization selection start date
Setting ID: School_Registration_Category_Selection_Start_Date
Location: Main Settings > General Settings > Student/Parents Portal > Selection of Educational Program Category/Specialization by Students
What This Setting Does
This setting sets the date on which Students become able to self-select their Educational Program Category/Specialization – for example a stream or track within their _Grade_ – through the portal.
Where It Is Used
Portal Home page: during the active selection window, an announcement banner appears automatically on the Student/Parent Home page inviting eligible Students to choose their Educational Program Category/Specialization. There is no separate settings screen for this beyond this settings tab.
Business Logic / Behavior
- This setting only takes effect for institutions that have Educational Program Categories enabled.
- The self-selection window opens on this start date and closes on the matching end date setting.
- Before the start date, no self-registration announcement is shown and Students cannot self-select their Category/Specialization through the portal.
- Only Students whose current educational program is in one of the _Grade_/stream combinations marked as available, and who have not already made a selection, are prompted.
Example(s)
Alpha Institute opens Category/Specialization selection for its _Grade_ 10 Students on March 1. The administrator sets this start date to 2026-03-01. From that date, Students such as Anna K. who have not yet chosen a specialization see an announcement banner on their portal Home page inviting them to pick one. Before March 1, no such banner appears even though the feature is otherwise configured.
When to Use
Set a start date that gives Students enough time to make an informed choice before the matching end date, typically aligned with the institution’s academic planning calendar for the next _Grade_ level or track.
Notes
Prerequisites: Educational Program Categories must be enabled, and at least one _Grade_/stream combination must be marked as available for selection.
- Related settings: Educational Program Category/Specialization selection end date (School_Registration_Category_Selection_End_Date in Student/Parents Portal > Selection of Educational Program Category/Specialization by Students)
- Related settings: Educational Program Category/Specialization Grade/Stream availability (School_Registration_Category_Selection_Grade_Stream_Availability in Student/Parents Portal > Selection of Educational Program Category/Specialization by Students)
- Related settings: Enable Educational Program Categories (Xrisi_Katigoriwn_Mathitologiou in General Settings > Basic Customization)
K-12 vs Higher Education: this setting behaves the same regardless of the type of institution.
