Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL)

 

EOEL Public Prekindergarten Program
Accepting applications starting March 1, 2024
for School Year 2024-2025

 
Eligibility Requirements

Your child must be three or four years old on or before July 31 of the current school year.
For school year 2024-25, your child’s birthday must fall on or between August 1, 2019 – July 31, 2021.

In addition to the age requirement, priority is given to children whose situations include one or more of the following listed below. Please identify the priority categories that you believe apply to you and your child’s situation. Please note that additional documentation may be required. EOEL will consider this information and supporting documentation as this application is reviewed.

How do children qualify for the program?

In addition to the age requirement, priority is provided to children whose situations include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

• Children who are placed through their individualized education programs in a general education setting;
• Children who are English as a second language learners;
• Children who are in foster care;
• Children who are experiencing homelessness or unstable housing;

“Homeless” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence
(within the meaning of section 42 USCS §11302(a)(1)) and includes:
• Unsheltered: Has no regular place to stay at night and lives in a campground, car, beach/park, abandoned building, street, or any other inadequate living space.
• Shelter: Lives in an emergency, transitional or domestic violence shelter.
• Hotel/Motel: Lives in a hotel or motel due to lack of other suitable housing, excludes
  temporary lodging for military persons awaiting housing.
• Doubled up: Lives temporarily with family or other persons due to loss of housing or as a result of economic hardship.
• Children whose family income is no more than 300% of the federal poverty level OR who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and/or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);

• Children who are experiencing at-risk situations which may impact their learning and development.

 

Application for School Year 2024-2025

Visit your nearest DOE elementary school with an EOEL Public Prekindergarten classroom to request an application
or click below to download the application.

 

 
Priority Category and Preference to Home School Dates

March 1 – May 31 : Priority categories within home school geographic region

June 1 – September 30 : Priority categories

October 1 – end of school year : Open enrollment

• For applications received between March 1 – May 31st, enrollment is awarded to students in the priority categories and applying within the home school geographic region. Notifications will be sent during the first week of June.
• For applications received between June 1 – September 30, enrollment (pending availability) is awarded to students in the priority categories and residing in any geographic region. Notifications will be sent during the first week of October.
• For applications received between October 1 – the end of the school year, enrollment (pending availability) is awarded to applicants on a first come first served basis. Notifications will be sent as applications are processed.

Schools will send letters of acceptance or denial to parents/legal guardians. Acceptance letters will instruct parents/legal guardians to enroll their child at the school office. Required school enrollment forms must be completed and submitted prior to the child’s first day of attendance.
 

Application and application materials are provided in Portable Document Format (PDF) which require a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing and printing.