It's the most wonderful time of the year (not!). The Preschool application season has begun anew in New York City for the 2010-2011 school year. Here's the deal - if your child turns 4 years old before December 31, 2010 then you can enroll him/her in a public school pre-k program that starts in September 2010. That's the easy part. How to do so will take a bit more effort on your part. But do not despair, I'll help walk you through the process. Here are a few things you should know:
- All universal pre-k programs are free of charge
- Even though all 4 year olds are eligible, a seat in a public universal pre-k program is not guaranteed
- The application deadline is April 9, 2010
- Programs can be half day (two and a half hours, AM/morning or PM/afternoon) or full day (six hours and twenty minutes)
- Programs are housed in public schools or in community based organizations, and each has their own separate application process
- Public school spots are given by lottery. First preference for all universal pre-k programs in public schools is given to siblings of students already registered in a NYC public school. Additional admission priorities here
- Applications available by mail or online. To apply by mail, you need to get a printed application from this year's pre-k directory, available at all borough enrollment offices. The directory is also available online. You may apply for a number of schools in one submission and rank those schools by order of preference.
There are information sessions being in each borough during the month of March. Flyer with dates here. Representatives from the Office of Student Enrollment and the Office of Early Childhood Education will be available at the sessions to answer your questions. Feedback from parents who attended the sessions last year was that all the information you need can be found in the directory or online at the DOE website. The sessions are often crowded and not well organized, but perhaps there will be improvements this year.
Once your application is complete the waiting begins. Notifications are not sent out until early June.
I WAS TOLD I HAD TIL SEPTEMNER TO APPLY FOR PRE K FOR MY SON WHO IS NOW 4 YEARS OLD SINCE JUNE 30,2011
PLEASE I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN SEND ME A LETTER OR EMAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT TO DO BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, ME AND MY HUSBAND BOTH WORK..
HE IS VERY INTELLIGENT HE KNOWS ALL HIS A.B.C. AND HE KNOWS HOW TO COUNT UNTIL 20 AND HE KNOWS ALL OF HIS LETTERS, AND HE IS VERY EAGERED TO START SCHOOL THIS YEAR. PLEASE I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME. I TRIED CALLING 311 A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST ME AT THE TIME..
I LIVE IN THE BRONX,MY NAME IS LISSETTE BERMUDEZ
THANK YOU VERY MUCH HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU VERY SOON!!
Unfortunately, the deadline to apply for a Pre-K spot in a public school this September was Friday, July 29th at 3 pm. However, families can apply to community-based organization (CBO) programs at any time throughout the summer. CBOs are private pre-school centers that partner with the City to provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) programs for families. You can obtain the CBO application at any CBO UPK site. You can also download the application at http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/AC1895C2-B24B-497F-BAAF-8B8F05378686/0/CBOUPKApplication_201112.pdf
You could also try calling your nearest public school to see if there are any spots still available in their Pre-K program. All application information is at the DOE website http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/PreK/Publications/default.htm
Good luck!
My sun would start pre_K in 2012.I want him to have full day.In our zoned school,there is no full day program.May we be enrolled not in zoned public school with full day?