How, When & Where To Apply To Pre-K; Enrollment Open Through April 24

Heather Chin -
Photo via NYC Department of Education

Pre-kindergarten enrollment season is here again.

Beginning yesterday and ending Friday, April 24, pre-k applications are being accepted for the 2015-2016 school year, from parents of any child born in 2011 and currently residing in New York City.

The Department of Education (DOE) has a pre-k resources page and Parent Guide available on their website, which includes a directory of available pre-k and early childhood center locations.

Plus, there will be a couple DOE-led informational sessions in Brooklyn to help you navigate the whole process:

Tuesday, March 17, 6-7:30pm

Wednesday, March 25, 6-6:30pm

And, in our area, a speaker from Insideschools.org will be answering parents’ questions at the Cortelyou Library this Saturday, March 21, from 2:30-4:30pm. For more information, go here.

Now, how do you apply?

  • Apply online: go here to create an account and submit your application. You can apply online 24 hours a day through 11:59pm on Friday, April 24.
  • Apply over the phone: call 718-935-2067 between 8am and 6pm, Monday through Friday. The deadline to apply over the phone is Friday, April 24 at 6pm.
  • Apply in person: visit the counselors at a DOE Family Welcome Center, which are open from 8am-3pm, Monday through Friday. There are centers at: 1780 Ocean Avenue, 415 89th Street, 29 Fort Greene Place, and 1665 St. Mark’s Avenue. The deadline to apply in person is Friday, April 24 at 3pm.

Whether you are planning to submit your pre-k application online, over the phone, or in person at a Family Welcome Center, make sure you have the following information with you when you apply:

  • Child’s name
  • Child’s date of birth
  • Parent/guardian name
  • Child’s address
  • Your telephone number
  • Your email address (for online applications)
  • Sibling information – if your child has a sibling attending one of the programs that you’re applying to, you’ll need to provide the sibling’s name, the sibling’s date of birth, the sibling’s current school, and the sibling’s school ID number.
  • The programs you’re applying to, in order of preference.

For more information about the pre-K process, and to see a full list of the available school sites in our area, go here.