Montclair Public Schools Preschool Program
Montclair Mini-Mounties @ MCPK
Click HERE to register for the Montclair Mini Mounties program on the district website. Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open on January 9th at 9:00 am.
How and when can you register for the Mini Mounties program?
The Montclair School District will open the application for the 2025-2026 Mini Mounties program on January 9th at 9:00 am. All new families interested in the Mini Mounties program must apply through the Montclair School District. Eligible students will be placed in available spots in the order they are received. If there are more applicants than open spots, students will be placed on the waiting lists for all ranked locations. Here is a link to the application: https://sites.google.com/mpsdnj.us/minimounties/application-and-registration?authuser=0
When will I find out if I got a spot in the Mini Mounties Program?
Families who submit their applications by January 20, 2025, at 9:00 AM will be notified of their placement status by January 24, 2025. If you receive a placement at MCPK, we will contact you about filling out the MCPK enrollment form in January.
What are your Mini-Mounties at MCPK class sizes and ratios?
All public pre-k classrooms have a maximum of 15 children with two full time MCPK staff members. Classrooms are mixed-age (3-4 or 4-5). Children will remain with their class and their teaching team throughout the school day both inside and outside on the playground.
When does the Mini-Mounties at MCPK school day begin and end?
Our full-day school program is 6 hours (8:30 am - 2:30 pm) with morning and afternoon Extended Care available from 7:00am-6:00 pm for an additional charge. Mini-Mounties families will be able to enroll in MCPK’s Extended Care program for an additional cost with the option of our sliding scale tuition for families that qualify. All students enrolled in MCPK's Extended Care program must be fully potty trained.
Click HERE for the Extended Care Tuition Scale.
Morning Care : 7:00am - 8:30 am (available 5 days a week)
Full-Day School Program: 8:30am - 2:30pm (5 days)
Afternoon Extended Care: 2:30pm - 6:00pm (available for 2, 3 or 5 days)
What is the school year calendar for the Mini-Mounties at MCPK?
All Public Pre-K classrooms will follow the Montclair Public School calendar including start and end dates, vacations, professional development days for staff, abbreviated days and school closures for weather. Students who are enrolled in the Extended Care program will be able to stay for Aftercare on abbreviated days.
Will my child in the Mini-Mounties program be eligible for transportation to and from MCPK?
Public Pre-K students who live more than 2 miles from their Pre-K location qualify to be bused to school. You will be notified by the MPS Transportation Department if you are eligible for busing. Busing is optional.
Does my child have to be toilet-trained to attend the Mini-Mounties program at MCPK? No. Students in our public classrooms are not required to be potty trained in order to attend MCPK. We recommend that families attempt to potty train children at home prior to the start of school if the child has shown signs that they are ready. MCPK Teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff will assist children with toileting and reinforce the potty training method being used at home. All students enrolled in MCPK's Extended Care program must be fully potty trained.
Who qualifies for the Mini-Mounties Public Pre-K program?
All Montclair residents who are 3 years old by 10/1. Students who qualify for Kindergarten (5 by 10/1) are not eligible for Public Pre-K. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunch will be prioritized in the application process, but all Montclair families are eligible for free pre-k.
What is the age requirement to enroll my child in the Mini-Mounties Public Pre-K Program?
All students must be three years old by 10/1. Students who qualify for Kindergarten (5 by 10/1) are not eligible for Public Pre-K.
What documents are required for enrollment in the Mini-Mounties Public Pre-K program?
Incoming students must submit the following to complete enrollment:
● proof of Montclair residency
● a copy of the child’s birth certificate or equivalent proof of birth
● NJ universal health record
● proof of immunizations
What are the vaccination requirements for my child?
State law requires that all children be up-to-date on their immunizations before they attend school, following the recommended schedule approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In addition, children must receive a flu vaccine between October 1st and December 15th.
What are the teacher qualifications in the Mini-Mounties Public Pre-K classrooms?
Public Pre-K lead teachers are required to be certified by the State of New Jersey in Early Childhood Education (P-3 Certification) or Elementary Education.
Do the Mini Mounties classrooms at MCPK participate in a lunch program?
Parents/caregivers can provide lunch each day for their child or they can participate in the Mini Mounties School Lunch Program through the Montclair Public Schools (MPS). Families who qualify for free and reduced school lunch will fill out the form with the Montclair School District and lunch will be delivered daily. Families who choose to pay for school lunch delivery will create an account with MPS’s school lunch program and select the lunch items of their choice to be delivered.
What curriculum will the Public Pre-K Classrooms follow at MCPK? All Mini-Mounties classrooms will follow Tools of the Mind (TOM), a research-based early childhood model based on the developmental theories of Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. The program combines teacher professional development with a comprehensive innovative curriculum that helps young children to develop the cognitive, social-emotional, self-regulatory, and foundational academic skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. To see more information about this play-based curriculum, please visit our website.
Will Mini-Mountie students and families participate in the same programming and have access to the same resources as other MCPK Classrooms?
All classrooms at MCPK will receive Related Arts programs throughout the year including Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music and Gardening. All classrooms will also participate in our Curriculum Enrichment/Anti-Bias Education program provided by One Love Cultured Kids. All classrooms will follow a similar flow of the day including daily outside time, center time, lunch and rest. Every family at MCPK will be part of our parents association and will be included in all school and community events, fundraisers and celebrations.
