Monthly Process
The monthly process is a very critical step in getting books into the hands of children. It takes place each month, during the first few days of the month. It is important to process all new and pending registrations before the monthly process to ensure that children receive books as soon as possible. We recommend processing as often as possible, but doing a final check to process anything pending just before the monthly process. It is also recommended that you download your child list after you've processed everything and before the BOS is closed for the monthly process. So what happens during the monthly process?
- The monthly process is for the following month's books. The August monthly process will be for September's books, for example. It is important to remember we are working one month ahead.
- Active child data is filtered through the National Change of Address (NCOA) database to compare the data in the BOS to what is on file at the United States Post Office. Any discrepancies will result in an NCOA flag. This is why new flags appear just after the monthly process.
- Active child data is used to order the number of books needed for each age group. They are printed, packaged, and shipped to us over the following several weeks.
- Active child data is used to print the book labels that will go onto the books.
- For children turning five the following month, we order their graduation book and they will be removed from the BOS as an active child. At this point, (limited) child info is transferred over to the graduate report.