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UNIVERSAL PRE-K AT A GLANCE
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Maplewood and South Orange resident children 
who are 3 or 4 years old by Oct. 1 of the school year.
HOW ARE STUDENTS SELECTED?
Eligible families participate in an annual lottery for 
available seats.
WHO RECEIVES PRIORITY ENROLLMENT?
Children eligible for preschool special education 
services through an Individualized Education Pro­
gram (IEP) are placed directly into the program 
and do not participate in the lottery. In accordance 
with New Jersey’s Universal Preschool and Kinder­
garten Act, children who meet the state’s priority 
enrollment criteria – including recent immigrants, 
low-income families, teen parents, and families 
experiencing homelessness – also receive priority 
placement and are not required to participate in the 
lottery process.
HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE SERVED?
Nearly 500 children participate in the district’s Uni­
versal Pre-K program each year.
WHERE DO CHILDREN ATTEND?
Children attend either Montrose Early Childhood 
Center or one of the district’s nine community part­
ner sites, based on placement and available space.
HOW IS THE PROGRAM FUNDED?
Universal Pre-K is funded through New Jersey Pre­
school Education Aid (PEA), allowing eligible fami­
lies to attend at no cost.
LEARN MORE
Visit somsdk12.org and search “Universal Pre-K” for 
eligibility requirements, lottery information, enroll­
ment timelines and application details.

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