Program Districts

3-K for All programs are located only in certain school districts. Families who live in one of the districts have a priority to attend a 3-K program in their district, but all families are welcome to apply.

2019-2020 School Year

Programs are available in:

• District 4 (East Harlem)
• District 5 (Harlem)
• District 6 (Washington Heights)
• District 7 (South Bronx)
• District 8 (Throgs Neck, Country Club, Pelham Bay, Castle Hill, Soundview, Hunts Point)
• District 9 (Highbridge and University Heights)
• District 16 (Bedford-Stuyvesant)
• District 19 (East New York)
• District 23 (Brownsville, East New York, and Ocean Hill)
• District 27 (Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, and the Rockaways)
• District 31 (Staten Island)
• District 32 (Bushwick)

2020-2021 School Year

The program will expand to include:

• District 12 (Central Bronx)
• District 29 (Southeast Queens)

Program Options

There are three types of 3-K programs:

• Department of Education (DOE) Pre-K Centers are led and operated by DOE staff.
• District School programs are located within public elementary schools.
• NYC Early Education Centers (NYCEECs): are offered by community-based organizations that contract with DOE or the Administration for Children's Services (ACS).

Find a 3-K Program

You can get 3-K program locations and contact information online or by phone.

You should contact programs directly for specific program information, including schedules, extended hours, and information on summer availability.

Online

To be eligible for the 2019-2020 school year, the child must have been born in 2016 and live in New York City. All families may apply, even if they don't live in the program districts.

The deadline to apply has passed, but you can add your child to waitlists through your MySchools account or by contacting programs directly to see if space is available.

You can get more information and sign up to receive emails with updates on 3-K admissions. 

Get 3-K enrollment information.

Eligibility

To be eligible for 3-K, a child must be:

• A New York City resident
• 3 years old by December 31 of the year of enrollment

Admissions Priorities and Regulations

When there is not enough space at a program for all its applicants, offers are made by the NYC Department of Education based on admissions priorities. Admissions priorities are different for each 3-K program type. You can learn more online.

Get 3-K enrollment information.

What to Bring to Register

To register your child for school, you must bring:

• Two proofs of address
• Proof of the child's age, such as a birth certificate, passport, or record of baptism
• Your child's immunization records
• Latest report card/transcript (if available)
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) and/or 504 Accommodation Plan (if applicable and available)

Proof of Address

Bring two of the following to prove your address:

• Income tax form for the last calendar year
• State, City, or other government-issued identification (including an IDNYC card) which isn't expired, and includes the address of residence
• Official NYS Driver License, Non-Driver ID card, or learner permit which isn't expired, and includes the address of residence
• A rent receipt, which includes the address of residence, dated within the past 60 days
• A residential utility bill (gas or electric) issued by National Grid, Con Edison, or the Long Island Power Authority dated within the past 60 days
• Water bill for the residence dated within the past 90 days
• A cable bill for the residence, which includes the name of the parent and the address of residence, dated within the past 60 days
• Documentation or a letter on letterhead from a federal, state, or local government agency dated within the past 60 days that includes the resident's name and address. Examples of agencies include:
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
  • The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement
  • Human Resources Administration (HRA)
  • Administration for Children's Services (ACS) or an ACS subcontractor
• A lease agreement, deed, or mortgage statement for the residence
• A current property tax bill for the residence
• Official payroll documentation from an employer issued within the past 60 days that includes the home address, A letter on the employer's letterhead isn't adequate. Examples include:
  • Paystub with home address
  • Form submitted for tax withholding purposes
  • Payroll receipt
• Voter registration documents that include the name of the parent and the address of residence
• Unexpired membership document based upon residency, such as neighborhood residents' association, which includes the name of the parent and the address of residence
• Evidence of custody of the child, including judicial custody orders or guardianship papers issued within the past 60 days that includes the name of the student and the home address

If you are interested in 3-K for All, you should also consider an EarlyLearn NYC or Head Start program for your child. Eligible families with children from 6 weeks through 4 years old can apply for free or low-cost child care and educational programs at locations citywide.

For information about EarlyLearn NYC or Head Start program, go to the Head Start page.

For other early childhood education programs and financial assistance information, go to the Child Care Financial Assistance page.

You can get more information about 3-K and help with enrollment.

Online

Visit the 3-K website to:

• Read the NYC 3-K Admissions Guide
• Find open house dates
• Sign up for email updates
• Request a call

Get 3-K enrollment information.

By Phone