Stories today in the Daily News and on the Huffington Post highlight parent frustrations with kindergarten enrollment; chatter we're hearing describes hundreds of children waitlisted for the most desirable Manhattan primary schools. Up to 90 children are waitlisted at PS 3and PS 41,popular schools that share a zone in Greenwich Village; Department of Education spokesperson Andy Jacob cautions patience as this plays out. Parents on the waitlist received letters from the DOE outlining the process.

Many forces are at play in kindergarten admissions. Changes this yearto an application process that allows families to apply to multiple schools, along with what's widely perceived to be increased demand for public schools, have caused their share of confusion. Here's what we've learned about the two schools in question:

PS 3 and PS 41 each had more than 100 kindergarten students in 2007-08, according to the most recent data posted on the DOE website. It's too early to say whether either school will open new classes to permit zoned children to enroll, or if class sizes will increase.

Because there were more applicants than seats available, the schools held a lottery and some families in the zone are waitlisted for both schools. The schools themselves maintain the lists, Jacob says, and families can call the schools to learn their place on the list.

Jacob says that much of the process is still incomplete -- for example, gifted & talented test results go out late next week, with placement decisions anticipated in early June. "There are several schools in Manhattan and other boroughs that have wait lists for zoned students," he said, noting that every year there are wait lists.

The DOE is gathering wait list information this month and will be looking at ways for schools to absorb as many zoned students as possible, Jacob said. Options could include increasing kindergarten class size, opening new classrooms (which could involve converting art studios or science labs to make room), and -- as a last resort -- capping a school's enrollment and directing children to another school in the same zone.