Frequently Asked QuestionsFamilies of children who will be 3 or 4 years old on October 1st may apply for preschool funding for the school year beginning in September. Applications will be available in January online under the Apply button or by calling the office at 973-532-2501. Priority will be given to applications received by March 1st. Applications received after this date will be reviewed and considered subject to available funding and space in partner schools.
Preschool Advantage seeks to place children who have no other means for attending preschool, that is children who do not qualify for public assistance programs and whose families cannot afford the cost of tuition. The median family income for accepted applicants in 2019 was approximately $36,000.
It is our philosophy to look at each application individually to really understand the need of the family for support and their commitment to educating their child. We have guidelines to assist in the process, but we do not use rigid rules to inform the selection. This approach is one way in which Preschool Advantage is different from other funding sources in the community.
The list of preschools with which Preschool Advantage partners is available online. Parents list their preferred schools on the application. Preschool Advantage is usually able to honor parents’ first or second choice of schools. Final placements are subject to space availability in each school and meeting the school’s own application process.
Families are required to file an abbreviated application focused on financial information. Preschool Advantage informs the families of 3 year olds completing the program of the application requirements for the second year.
There are no residential qualifications for families applying to Preschool Advantage. However, families must be able to reliably transport their child to one of the Partner Preschool in Morris and/or Somerset County.
For the 2019-2020 school, year over 100 children were selected to receive tuition support. Since its inception, the organization has funded preschool for over 800 children, many of them for two years.
Preschool Advantage charges each family whose child has been accepted into the program a $75 registration fee. The cumulative fee paid by Preschool Advantage families allows for the funding of another child.
Preschool Advantage funds 3 and 4 year olds. If children begin the program at 3, they are eligible for 2 years of preschool. Children may also begin the program at 4. Preschool Advantage funds HALF DAY programs, for example 9-12 each school day.
Families of children who turn 4 by October 1 of the school year may apply to Preschool Advantage. Five year olds are not eligible for Preschool Advantage’s assistance. Parents should apply to the public school system for kindergarten.
Yes, Preschool Advantage recognizes that many programs such as Head Start or local municipal preschools have waiting lists. Families may apply to Preschool Advantage as well as to other programs. If another program becomes available for the child, the family is simply asked to notify Preschool Advantage as soon as possible, so that the seat may be made available to another Preschool Advantage child.
No, families whose older children have attended preschool through Preschool Advantage must still submit the standard application package.
Preschool Advantage allocates the majority of its funding to families who submit their application prior to March 1st. Applications received after that date are considered subject to availability of funding and space in partner schools. Those seeking funding after the school year has begun should contact the Preschool Advantage office to inquire as to the possibility of applying at that time.
Interested in applying for your child?
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