Newark Public Schools Pre-K Registration Starts April 1

Early registration of students for Newark Public Schools Pre-K Three and Pre-K Four classes (ages 3 and 4 respectively) for the 2013-2014 school year begins April 1. 

For more information, contact the Early Childhood Education office: 973-733-6234/8389.

All children celebrating their third or fourth birthday on or before Oct. 1, 2013 are eligible for enrollment in Newark Public Schools Pre-Kindergarten classes, or any of the community-based preschool programs under contract with the district.  Children enrolled at the contracted centers can be registered on-site at the center of choice. 

(In accordance with New Jersey Department of Education, Preschool Program Implementation Guidelines, mixed-age classes are the standard in both district and community-based preschool programs.)

Early registration for Kindergarten (aged 5) starts May 1.  All children celebrating their 5th birthday on or before October 1, 2013 are eligible for enrollment in their neighborhood Kindergarten programs.

Admission Requirements   

Proof of Age: Birth certificate (Original) or baptismal certificate (original) or passport.

Proof of Newark Residency: The preschool program is offered free to children who live in Newark with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s).  Any three (3) of the following documents may be offered to prove legal residence:  Voter registration card, deed or mortgage statement, recent property tax bills (last 6 months), official notarized lease or affidavit of landlord verifying that student lives at the given address, utility bills (water, gas or electric), driver’s license, federal, state or county issued identification (containing a home address), financial account information (containing home address), employment documents and/or benefit statement containing home address.   (One of the documents must have been issued within the last 30 days of the date the child is registered for preschool.) 

Proof of Immunizations: All students must meet the current requirements for age-appropriate immunizations.  (Proof of vaccinations must be submitted at time of admission.)  All students must be immunized unless exempt, as permitted by law.  Provisional admission shall be granted to any children from another state or country that are in the process of completing their immunizations, provided they have started their immunizations.
 
Health Examinations: The school physician and school nurse shall conduct physical examinations in accordance with the program set up by the district medical inspector, and as prescribed by state law and as approved by the Newark Public Schools.  The parent or legal guardian may have the same physical examination conducted by a private physician.  In that event, the physician’s signed report must be submitted on the district health form.

Home Language Survey: As part of required district intake screening for every child, a Home Language Survey (HLS) is to be completed in the school office by the adult registering the new student.  This survey takes no more than two minutes to complete and is used to establish eligibility for bilingual and/or ESL instructional support for the Pre-K and Kindergarten students.