Pre-Kindergarten Enrollment Process

The Early Childhood Department partners with families to help every young learner begin school with confidence and success. Our Early Childhood Specialists take the time to listen to families’ needs and provide support, guidance, and helpful tools that make a positive difference in each child’s learning journey.

The first step is to complete the PK intake form, which can be found on our home page, as well as the intake links below. After you submit the form, your child will be added to our interest list. When your child’s name comes up on the list, an early childhood specialist will contact you to confirm your continued interest. If you would like to move forward, we will schedule an appointment for screening and registration. Once your child has completed screening and registration, you will be offered a placement in one of our available pre‑kindergarten programs.

Registration for the upcoming school year begins in March, and families are encouraged to complete an intake form as early as possible because space in PK programs is limited. 

How to register your child:

1. Once your child is on our interest list, an Early Childhood Specialist will contact you to schedule an appointment for registration and a PK screening.

2. Gather required documents before your child’s scheduled appointment (see required documents).

3. Attend your child’s appointment, ensuring to arrive 5-10 minutes early to avoid rescheduling or cancellation. You MUST CALL if you need to cancel or reschedule your child’s appointment.  If we do not hear from you and the appointment is missed, your child will be moved to the bottom of the interest list. Please note, your child must be present for this appointment so we can complete a PK screening assessment.

Completed Student Registration Packet: Enrollment page (front & back), language survey, release of records, student health profile, MassHealth letter, McKinney Vento eligibility quesionnaire, Early Childhood Education experience survey, migrant education form, Native America eligiblity form

Birth Certificate or Passport: An official, certified birth certificate from city/town Hall

Parent/Guardian Photo Identification: License, passport, or any other government issued photo ID

Two Recent Proofs of Residency: License, mortgage statement, property deed, current property tax or water bill, post office change of address, pay stub, cable/gas/electric/utility bill, car insurance or registration, home/renter’s insurance bill

Medical Information: Student immunization record, latest physical exam, medication orders (for student who need medication administered during the school day), TB test (if student was born outside or US or traveled outside US for more than 30 days)

Custodial Agreement (if applicable): Caregiver affidavit, court order, notice to local education agency (LEA), DCF, foster, pre-adoption letters

*If you are unable to provide any of the documents above, pleas speak with an Early Childhood Specialist for assistance.

What is a pre-kindergarten screening?

A pre-kindergarten screening is a brief, yet reliable way to help identify children who may have a disability or suspected delay. Screening assesses multiple learning domains including cognitive function (thinking, reasoning, understanding), language (receptive/expressive communication and articulation), social-emotional/behavioral, physical (fine and gross motor), comprehensive health (including perceptual motor, vision, hearing and medical history), general knowledge and approaches to learning. 

How do I schedule a screening appointment and how do I know if my child will enter PK?

1. Once we reach your child on our interest list, we will contact you to schedule an appointment for screening and registration.

2. At the time of appointment, if there are no developmental concerns, we will offer a placement in one of our PK programs. If your neighborhood school has a PK program, you will be offered placement at your neighborhood school. If it does not, children may be placed in the next closest school with an available PK seat. When possible, children may also attend the elementary school where an older sibling is currently enrolled, if that school offers PK and has available space.

3. After screening and registration is complete, family welcome center nurses must review children’s medical history, including immunizations, to ensure they are medically cleared to start school. Children MUST be medically cleared before they can physically start school.

4. Prior to the start of school, your child’s school will contact you with more information regarding their PK orientation dates and times, and any other important information they feel necessary.

5. GET READY FOR SCHOOL!

Will my child receive transportation for PK?

New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS) does not offer transportation for PK. Families are responsible for transporting their children to and from school.

Does my child have to be fully potty trained to start school?
All children entering NBPS PK must be fully potty trained. Children must be able to communicate the need to use the bathroom, get on and off the toilet independently, pull pants down/up, wipe, wash & dry their hands, wear underwear and be free of daily accidents. 

What if I have concerns about my child’s development?
NBPS offers Child Find screenings and evaluations for early detection of developmental delays and disabilities, with consultation from the Special Education Department.

Does my child need to attend school every day, Monday through Friday?
Yes, children must be on time and in school every day. Families who accept placement with NBPS PK programming are expected to adhere to the NBPS PK attendance protocol. 

Are there before and after school programs at NBPS for PK students?
NBPS offers before and after school programs, however, it is school based and varies from year to year. Once your child is enrolled in a PK program, you may contact the school to see if they offer a program. The EC Department does not determine which students are accepted to any before and after school programs- decisions come directly from the school in which the before and after school program is offered. 

Can I visit my child’s school before their first day of school?
Yes, every school offers PK orientation the week before school starts. Once your child is placed in a PK program, the school will notify you with more information. 

What if my child has an allergy or medical condition?
All children must be cleared medically before they can start school. If your child has allergies or medical concerns, a doctor’s note and/or medication order must be provided by the pediatrician. NBPS Family Registration nurses review all student records and contact you with any questions or concerns. 

Can my child attend the same school as their sibling?
Yes, we do our best to place children in the same school as their siblings, if the school offers PK, and space is available. 

Can I choose the school my child attends?

Placement for children without disabilities is based on their neighborhood school, if a PK program is available. If the neighborhood school does not offer PK, the district will place the child in the next closest school with available space. In addition, if a child has a sibling already attending an elementary school that offers PK, that school may be considered for placement when space allows. 

What meals are provided and can my child bring snacks to school?
All children must be medically cleared before they can start school. If your child has allergies or medical concerns, a doctor’s note and/or medication order must be provided by the pediatricians. NBPS Family Registration nurses review all student records and contact you with any questions or concerns. 

What is Child Find?

Child Find is part of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It requires every state to actively look for, identify, and evaluate children from birth through age 21 who may have a disability or developmental delay and need early childhood or special education services. The goal of Child Find is to make sure children receive the specialized instruction and services they need as early as possible.

Are you concerned about how your child plays, learns, communicates, or behaves?

If you have concerns about your child’s development, our Early Childhood team is here to support you. We offer free developmental screenings and/or special education evaluations for children ages 3–5 who may be showing signs of a delay or disability. A screening is a short check‑in that looks at skills such as communication, motor development, social‑emotional development, and early learning. This helps us understand whether your child may benefit from additional support.

If you are worried about your child’s development, please complete the Pre‑Kindergarten Intake Form, indicating your concerns. After you submit the form, one of our Early Childhood Specialists will contact you to learn more and guide you through next steps.

What happens after my child is screened?

When the screening is finished, a member of our Early Childhood team will review the results with you and answer any questions you may have. If the screening shows your child is having difficulty in one or more areas of development, a consultation will be scheduled to determine if the student needs further evaluation from our special education department. This process helps ensure that every child receives the right level of support as early as possible.