Question 

Response 

When will students on the waitlist be notified there is an available seat?

Families of students on the waitlist were notified on Monday, November 6, 2023 via email.  Additionally, a letter was mailed to all home addresses. 

My child is in Preschool 3 this year, so they need another year of preschool for the 24-25 school year. If we accept a spot for this school year, are we guaranteed a space for next school year as well? Or will we be back in the lottery for the 24-25 year? 

Yes, once a student is awarded a slot, they are guaranteed a slot in the program until they transition to full day kindergarten.

I see that the spaces are going to be available "in January." Does that mean preschool will begin when the rest of the district schools resume following winter break? Or could it be later in the month? 

It is our intention to begin on January 2^nd when we return from Winter Break!  

When will I be notified of which private provider I have been assigned? 

Families will be notified of private provider assignment once the acceptance or decline notifications have been returned and after bus routes are established.  We anticipate this will be in early December. 

Will parents be able to self-select the private provider location and teacher?

Parents will not be able to self select the private provider location.  Students will be assigned to private provider locations based on their home address.  Additionally, bus routes will factor into location assignments.  If you are eligible for Head Start, your child will be assigned to the Head Start provider site. 

Parents will not be able to self select the classroom teacher. 

Who are the private providers and how were they selected?

The private providers selected to partner with Cherry Hill Public Schools are: 

Clockwise Learning Center 

Discovery Corner Childcare 

Mosaic Early Learning (Head Start)  - Oaklyn, NJ

Family Matters Early Childcare Center - Voorhees, NJ 

The District has hosted 2 private provider meetings to solicit partnerships with all Cherry Hill based private providers.  This included private, big box, independently owned, and religious based programs.  All were offered the opportunity to partner with the District. The NJDOE requires that anyone receiving Preschool Expansion Aid demonstrates due diligence in outreach for partnerships with community providers to ensure there will be enough preschool classrooms to serve the 3 and 4 year old population.  

Are the private providers vetted? 

Yes, each of the private providers is vetted and must be approved by the New Jersey Department of Education.  The private providers must follow the Cherry Hill Public Schools instructional day of 6 hours, curricular requirements, school calendar, adhere to district policies, eliminate all religious educational components, certification guidelines for certificated staff, etc… Compliance of the areas above will be closely monitored by school district officials.  

Will the private providers offer before and aftercare? 

The private providers do intend to provide before and aftercare.  Information will be forthcoming from each private provider. 

Will the before and after school programs have certified staff working and will the programs follow a specific program?

The before and afterschool programs will be staffed by the private providers.  Before and afterschool programs have staffing guidelines and program expectations. The providers will be able answer this question once assigned. 

Will there be an information night?

Yes, an information night for all parents selected to the program will be held in December.  

Will I be able to tour the private provider location? 

Yes, each private provider will host an open house prior to the January 2nd start date. 

Is there any cost associated with registration or attendance for this school year? I know there was a $2000 cost for Malberg students selected in the lottery; will that be true for students starting in January as well?

There will be no costs associated with registration or attendance moving forward for preschool.  With the awarding of the preschool expansion aid, all costs are covered for students.  Please know that there will be a cost for before and aftercare which is not covered under preschool expansion aid.

Will transportation be provided? 

Yes, transportation will be provided for students who meet the policy requirements. 

All staff will be Cherry Hill Public School staff, even if located at a private provider?

The staff employed by the provider will be provider employees.  The private providers need to follow Cherry Hill guidelines for staffing.

Are any spaces available at Malberg, as we prefer this location?

All spaces at the provider sites and Malberg have been assigned.  Some seats are held at Malberg for students with IEPs.  Parents will not be able to select the site for their child.  Additionally, parental requests will not be accepted. 

If you decide to not attend this academic year, do you go back into the lottery for next school year ‘24-‘25)?

Yes.

Once enrolled, you are guaranteed a spot for the following year, would that be at the same provider?

Yes.

Will the students be mixed in classes with other students enrolled at the private providers?

No, all students at the private provider sites must be Cherry Hill residents.  

Will meals/lunch be offered by the district at outside providers?  If parents qualify for free, will it be free at the providers?

Provider sites will provide meals/lunch. The meals/lunch will not be provided from Cherry Hill Public Schools. If a child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, it will apply at the provider site as well.

If I my child is currently on the waitlist and I have not received notice of acceptance, when will I hear back?

We do not currently have a timeline for students still on our waitlist. We will continue to notify families as seats open for the 23-24 school year. If your child is not called from the waitlist this school year, you will need to reapply for enrollment/waitlist placement for the 24-25 school year.