Pre-K admissions process begins

Parents of children who turn four years old in 2009 can pick-up, fill-out, and submit applications for public school pre-kindergarten programs beginning Friday, March 6 through April 3. Applications and directories will be available at public elementary schools.

The Department of Education (DOE) will hold 11 pre-K information sessions spanning all five boroughs beginning March 3. See our calendar for the dates and locations.

According to the DOE, the first round of offers will be sent to families the week of May 18. Last year, however, was the first year that the DOE centralized pre-K admissions and there were several delays and snafus throughout the process. Since the pre-K admissions calendar begins just as the first round of kindergarten applications ends it may be easier to accomodate families with children applying to both pre-K and kindergarten, according to the DOE.

For more information on public pre-K programs, see our Basics section, the DOE's website, or sign-up for the Department's e-mail alerts. If you have questions, ask on our forum or e-mail the DOE directly. Stay tuned to our blog for updates.

-Lindsey Whitton Christ, Feb. 24, 2009