2025-2026 Tours and Information Sessions:

Information session (All Providers): Each year the the Mini-Mounties PreK hosts an information session for families. During this session, representatives from all providers will present about their location and be available to answer questions. This year the event will be held on:

Date: January 8, 2025 

Time: 5:30-6:30 PM

Location: Wally Choice Community Center (45 Maple Ave)

In addition to this information session, each Mini-Mountie location has its own tour process. The tour information for each provider for the 2025-2026 school year is:

• MCPK: Tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To schedule, email: info@montclairprek.org

• MCDC: To schedule a tour, email: info@mcdcnj.org

• NCICC: To schedule a tour, email: neighborhoodchildcare@verizon.net

• YMCA: Open House on January 4, 2025, from 1:00–3:00 PM

• DLC: To schedule a tour, email: jfinnerty@montclair.k12.nj.us

• Nishuane: Tour on January 2, 2025, from 6:00–7:00 PM, email: jfinnerty@montclair.k12.nj.us

• CHB: Tour on January 3, 2025, from 6:00–7:00 PM, email: jfinnerty@montclair.k12.nj.us

• Hillside: Tour on January 7, 2025, from 6:00–7:00 PM, email: jfinnerty@montclair.k12.nj.us

2025-2026 APPLICATION PROCESS

The Montclair Public Schools Preschool Program is expanding for the 2025-2026 school year and will offer a total of 29 classrooms across various locations. If you're interested in enrolling your child, applications for new families will open on January 9, 2025, at 9:00 AM. To be eligible, children must be three or four years old by October 1, 2025, and be Montclair residents.

Classroom for 2025-2026:

• YMCA: Expanding from 2 to 3 classrooms

• DLC: Maintaining 3 classrooms

• Nishuane: Expanding from 2 to 4 classrooms

• CHB: New Location, 1 classrooms

• Hillside: New Location, 3 classrooms

• MCPK: Maintaining 8 classrooms

• MSU-Ben Samuels: New Location, 3 classrooms

• NCICC: Maintaining 1 classroom

• MCDC: Maintaining 3 classrooms

How the Application Process Works: New applications will be processed in the order they are received. If there are more applicants than available spots, students will be placed on the waiting list (in the order received) for all the locations they ranked. Families who submit their applications by January 20, 2025, at 9:00 AM will be notified of their placement status by January 24, 2025.

Important Information:

• Current Provider Families: Families whose children are already attending a provider location (YMCA, MCPK, NCICC, MSU, MCDC) and have been recommended (based on their eligibility) for transition to Mini-Mounties, will be contacted directly by their provider. Please reach out to your provider if you have any questions.

• Waitlisted Families: All families on the 2024-2025 waitlist (who meet eligibility requirements) will be offered a spot for the 2025-2026 school year. You will receive a confirmation letter by Friday, 12/20/24. This letter will not include placement information. All placements will be determined by January 24, 2025. 

• New Families: Applications for new families will open on January 9, 2025 via a Google Form on the Mini-Mounties website. The MPS Pre-K registration process (for accepted students) begins on January 27th. Do not register your child with the district before January 27, 2025, and until you have been offered a spot and accepted your location. 

Important Notes:

• Do not register your child before January 27, 2025, as this is the first official day of PreK registration.

• After placement notifications are sent on January 27, 2025, families will need to complete the MPS online registration process and schedule an appointment with the registrar within 30 days (February 27,2025). If this process is not completed within 30 days, the preschool spot will be offered to the next eligible family on the waiting list.

• Applications received after 9:00 AM on January 20, 2025, will be placed on the waiting list and notified as spots become available.

Priority will be given to children who qualify for free/reduced lunch or income-driven scholarships to ensure socioeconomic diversity.

If your child has been placed at a provider location (MCPK, Neighborhood Childcare, YMCA, MCDC, MSU), you will need to complete the registration for BOTH Montclair Public Schools AND the assigned provider location. For DLC, Nishuane, CHB, and Hillside only the MPS registration is required. Please DO NOT complete these forms if you are on the waiting list and have not been assigned a location. 

If you have any questions regarding provider registration, please contact the provider directly: