Today, March 7th, families with children turn four this year can begin the process of applying to the free pre-kindergarten programs throughout the city for the 2011/2012 school year. Families should be aware that demand for these seats is usually very high, and schools usually receive far more applications than they can accommodate. It’s also important to note that children with siblings already in the school are usually given priority. Parents can apply here at the Department of Education’s website, and the process is open through to April 8th. —
For some helpful insight to the application process, we recommend the following resources:
*Insideschools.org has plenty of resources and great advice, including details on information sessions (March 7-9), as well as the differentiation between public schools programs and CBOS (Community-based organizations, which have their own admissions process) and more. Check it out here.
*Leslie Albrecht and Julie Shapiro (of DNAinfo.com) give a rundown of the process, including deadlines, what schools receive the most applications, what parents can do to improve their chances and other education options. Check out all their advice here.
Of course, the NYC Department of Education also has tons of great information about the process, including the complete schedule of info sessions in every borough. Click here for more info.
