DOUGLAS COUNTY, Georgia. – She was supposed to attend Mt. Carmel Elementary School, but due to enrollment issues, five-year-old Cydney Wright must stay home with her mother.

“Well, at home I like to cuddle with my mommy,” said the child in a gentle voice.

As much as her mother, Courtney Wright, loves snuggling with her youngest daughter, she wants Cydney to learn in school. Wright doesn’t understand the delay. She doesn’t like that she won’t be able to experience the first day of school properly and worries that Cydney’s first day of school will be awkward.

“I think she’s missing that (a real first-day-of-school experience),” Wright said. “She’ll be a little shy at first because she’s new while everyone else is settling in.”

Without directly addressing the Wright family’s case, the Douglas County school system released a statement:

“The Douglas County School System is committed to providing a smooth start to the school year for all students. Our school administration understands how important it is to get students in the classroom and ready to learn as soon as possible. Our first day of school was August 1, and the majority of students who registered on or before that date have been approved and are able to begin classes.

“Students who were missing documentation were still allowed to attend school on the first day, but were given a 30-day grace period to submit the remaining documentation. Unfortunately, some enrollments remain on hold due to missing important documentation, such as proof of residency or guardianship. These requirements are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our students while complying with state regulations.

“In response to the high volume of late registrations received after the first day of school, we have increased our staff to support the registration process. They are working overtime to get all students in class with the required documentation and ready to learn as quickly as possible. Our student registrars, school-level office managers, and newly hired support staff are working diligently to efficiently handle these last-minute registrations. All available resources have been deployed to expedite the registration process while maintaining the integrity of our enrollment procedures.

“The Douglas County School System is committed to supporting all families throughout the registration process. We encourage families who have not yet completed their registration to submit the required documentation as soon as possible. This will allow Student Services to complete enrollment and ensure a smooth transition into the school year.”

Wright says she registered her daughter two days before school started on Aug. 1. She recently moved to a new home, and while the new address didn’t affect her high school student, it meant a new school district for Cydney.

Wright insists that the school system’s statement does not apply to her because Cydney has never been in a classroom and was never given a 30-day grace period.

She says she doesn’t understand why it’s so complicated. Wright believes it will work, but wants her little student to start learning right away at school.