If you're still looking for a pre-Kindergarten program for your 4-year-old, the Department of Education wants you! According to the Daily News there are some 5400 open seats, so many that the DOE is advertising them on Craigslist.
What's the catch? Many of the programs are half-day sessions, either morning or afternoon,which are inconvenient for working parents. But there are more than 900 full-day options as well, many of them in desirable schools. Be aware that some schools have just one open seat, whereas others have a few dozen.
If your child is turning four by Dec. 31, 2009, he or she is eligible. The DOE is asking parents to register by Oct. 30 because the city risks losing millions of dollars in state funding if they don't fill the seats by Oct. 31. Openings will be filled on a "first-come, first-serve" basis," according to the DOE.
Bear in mind, even if your child is accepted into a pre-K program this year, there is no guarantee that he or she will be able to attend the same school in kindergarten. You'll have to apply again; priority is given to students living in the zone, and those with siblings already attending the school.
For a list of registration requirements, and schools and community organizations with available seats, check the DOE's page on pre-kindergarten admissions.
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