Is your child turning five this year? Today, Feb. 1 is the first day to submit a kindergarten application.

Families may apply to multiple schools by going directly to the school with proof of address and date of birth, and filling out an application.You don't need to bring your child.  Kindergarten admissions is a school-based process so the application may vary by school, with some schools using a  kindergarten application template provided by the Department of Education. This round of applications will last until March 12.

According to New York State law, kindergarten is not mandatory (although it is strongly encouraged!) but every child who applies is guaranteed a place. Priority in admissions is given to students who are zoned for the school, and to unzoned students who have a sibling enrolled in the school. For a rundown of admissions' priorities, see the Department of Education's page on elementary school admissions.<!--more-->

Only District 1, on the Lower East Side, does not have zoned schools; it has a separate application process. District 3, on the Upper West Side, has schools which accept out of zone children in a lottery. On Feb. 6 there will be an early childhood fair from 11-1 p.m. at PS 242, where parents may meet representatives from these District 3 schools. Elementary school directories and lottery applications will be available at the fair.

The kindergarten application period runs from Feb. 1-March 12. Schools will notify parents of acceptances by March 23, according to the DOE. Theoretically students could be accepted at more than one school. Registration at the school will take place from April 12-23.

All students must apply to kindergarten to be ensured a space for Fall 2010, including students with disabilities. However most students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plan) who require a special class or a Collaborative Team-Teaching class will be placed by the Committees on Special Education later in the spring after the children have had their kindergarten IEP meeting. Students who get services such as speech or occupational therapy should apply now as should parents of children with disabilities who want to reserve a spot in a general education class for their child. However, registering for a particular school has no impact on whether or not a child will get a spot in that school's self-contained class or CTT class because placement for those classes go through the CSEs and enrollment offices.

Last year was the first year that the kindergarten admissions timeline was standardized citywide and that it began this early in the year. It resulted in some early confusion at schools that weren't prepared for applicants in February. And there were several schools that had more applicants than slots, especially in Manhattan on the Upper East Sideand in Greenwich Village. The opening of new schools, and the rezoning of others, may have alleviated the worst of the overcrowding.

Are you applying to kindergarten for fall 2010? Let us know how it's going. Are the schools ready for you?

District 3's Celebrating Early Childhood Flyer_Spanish