Comments on: Kindergarten sibling policy, direct from DOE

By: Time Out New York Kids: Blog Parenting Poop: What Big Apple Moms and Dads Are Buzzing About

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:40:16 +0000

[…] the kindergarten application process, folks have been confused about the sibling enrollment policy. InsideSchools has got the answer direct from the gov, and yet we’re still slightly […]

By: 4:17 Anonymous

4:17 Anonymous — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:13:50 +0000

Yes, Helen, my child is applying for Gen Ed to her sister’s school, which is out-of-district for us. School has told me that given projected enrollment they hope to have enough K classes to accommodate her for K, but the budget slashes could prevent them from having as many K classes as they would like. They have a number of out-of-district & out-of-zone PreKers some with sibs & some without. As I want my kids together I will now look to other schools that may be able to offer them both a seat just in case. I wish they could at least grandfather in current sibs.

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:33:57 +0000

Kindergarten classes should be limited to 25 or fewer students. Because NYC schools are not legally obliged to enroll youngsters until first grade, individual schools can make decisions to open extra K classes or limit enrollment. Much depends on what else is going on in the building and whether space, funds, and teaching talent are available to serve another K class. As principals control these school-based decisions, options vary from school to school. But in practice, most local kids can go to their local, zoned school for kindergarten, although the school may feel less obliged to families in other zones/districts, unless older siblings are already part of the school community. Anonymous at 4:17, I’m not sure what you mean when you say you’ll apply all over again to new schools. Are you writing about g+t programs or gen-ed K? And do you have an older child at school, and a younger sib you’d like to attend the same school? For both K and g+t K, siblings have priority, provided, of course, they meet g+t entry criteria where applicable.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:17:27 +0000

I am in same boat as you Gussy. I don’t see how we can find out sooner than August unless they create an in-zone registration cut-off date. I plan to apply all over again to new schools just in case — I just physically can’t be at 2 different schools.

By: gussy

gussy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:07:48 +0000

Thanks, Helen. So this means the classes fill up in this order until they reach a certain number (26 kids?) — is that right? Or can the principals choose to stop letting in kids after the zoned kids are in? Seems those of us with kids in out of zoned schools won’t know about their siblings until the class sizes are clear…