Preschool generally refers to programs for students under the age of five.
The NYC Department of Education (DOE) offers limited preschool programs at no cost, but does not guarantee that all children will have a spot (unlike children 5 years and older, who are guaranteed a spot at no charge). For the time being, Old Fashioned Family's overview of preschool is limited to private programs. Refer to the NYC Department of Education (DOE) website or Insideschools.org for details on public preschool programs. Many parents prefer to enroll their children in daycare, rather than a preschool. The distinction between daycare and preschool is growing increasingly blurry, as some daycare facilities are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Many daycare facilities administer kindergarten admissions testing which are required by many private programs (see A Note about Admissions Testing). Despite the daycare alternative, the recent boom in New York City babies and toddlers has resulted in a situation where demand for certain preschools exceeds the supply. In order to ensure your child is accepted by a program that works for both your child and your family, it is important that you submit preschool applications in a timely manner. A common mistake made by first-timers is to miss key dates in the admissions process. The incoming class in Fall 2008 should submit their applications in Early Fall 2007. Additional application timeline details can be found in the Timetable Section of this site.
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