Preschool
Preschool Office: 908.851.6557
Email: tupspreschoolregistration@tups.org
Important Message:
The Township of Union Public Schools Preschool will be based on a lottery for the 2026-2027 school year.
Questions About Preschool Registration:
- Please submit an email to tupspreschoolregistration@tups.org
Important Information To Know:
- Placement within the program is not guaranteed.
- Students who are currently enrolled in Prek-3 for the current school year (25-26) will get priority placement into Prek-4.
- Prek-3 students are only placed in district classes located at local providers.
- Prek-3 students are not placed in the elementary schools.
Lauren Barnes
Director of Preschool
lbarnes@tups.org
(908) 851-3052
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Township of Union Public Schools Preschool is based on a lottery for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Families will submit a pre-registration application to enter the lottery.
- Lottery submissions will be accepted and opened on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and will remain open through Friday, March 27, 2026. The link will be made available at that time.
- Parents will be notified of selection or wait-listed by April 17, 2026.
- Children who do not get a seat immediately will be put on a waitlist in the order of their assigned number via the lottery process.
- Families submitting applications after Friday, March 27, 2026, will be placed on the waiting list.
Please note: This process doesn't apply to current preschool students within the Township of Union Public Schools. All current Prek-3 students will roll over to Prek-4.
- Registration Requirements: Your child must reside in the Township of Union.
- For Prek-3 (3F) - Your child must be 3 years old by October 1, 2026.
- For Prek-4 (4F)- Your child must be 4 years old by October 1, 2026.
* If your child attended a private daycare or school, you are still required to follow the birthdate requirements listed above.
The lottery form doesn't require the submission of any documents.
The lottery is closed for the 2026-2027. If you wish to be added to the waiting list, please use the link below:
Homeschool According to Street Listing
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Preschool Lottery Process
School Year- 2026-2027
Dear New Preschool Families,
To ensure a fair and transparent enrollment process, the District will use a randomized lottery system to determine the order in which families are offered preschool placement.
Lottery Process
Application Deadline:
All preschool applications must be submitted by the published deadline to be included in the lottery.
Lottery Opens: Monday, February 23, 2026, at 9:00 am
Lottery Closes: Friday, March 27, 2026, at 4:00 pm
Assignment of Random Numbers
Each eligible family will be assigned a randomly generated number.
Numbers will be generated using a neutral, unbiased randomization method.
Each family will be assigned only one number per child applying.
Sorting of Numbers
After all random numbers are assigned, the list of applicants will be sorted in ascending order (from lowest number to highest number).
Selection Order
The sorted list will determine the order in which families are offered available preschool seats.
Offers will be made sequentially following the sorted order.
Families will be notified according to the contact information provided in their application.
Waitlist
Any applicants not offered a seat due to capacity limits will remain on a waitlist in the same lottery-determined order.
If a seat becomes available, the next family on the list will be contacted.
Anyone submitting applications after 4:00 pm, Friday, March 27, 2026, will be automatically waitlisted.
Documentation and Transparency
The lottery process will be documented and may be observed by designated district personnel to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Notification: Families will be notified via email by April 17, 2026.
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- Preschool is a full-day program and follows the same school calendar as the district.
- The preschool program is state-funded and follows the mandate of 15 students per class.
- The district preschool program implements a state-approved play-based curriculum- The Creative Curriculum.
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- Your child must live in Union Township.
- For Prek-3 (3F) -Your child must be 3 years old by October 1, 2026.
- For Prek-4F (4F)- Your child must be 4 years old by October 1, 2026.
- **If your child attended a private daycare or school- you are still to follow the birthdate requirements listed.
TOWNSHIP OF UNION PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Department of Special Services
2369 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
Phone: 908-851-6478/Fax: 908-851-6881
Notice of Child Find Activity
Pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act and New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 6A:14, Special Education
The Township of Union Public School District has a responsibility to locate, identify, and evaluate all resident students with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services, including students with disabilities attending nonpublic schools, and highly mobile pupils such as migrant workers’ children and homeless children, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. The school district locates, identifies and evaluates, where appropriate, the following: Children below school-entry age (3-5); school age children; children entering school for the first time; children enrolled in public and private schools; transfer pupils and school age children who are eligible to attend school but who are not attending school and who are residents of Township of Union School District. Upon written request, the district will conduct an initial identification meeting for any resident child to determine whether a referral for special education and related services is appropriate. Such a request may be made by contacting Kim Conti, Director of Special Services, Township of Union Public Schools at 908-851-4426 or by writing her at 2369 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083. The school district provides special education and related services for children ages 3 to 21. Information for children with potential disabilities or those with disabilities from birth to three is available through Project Child Find (a service established by the NJ Department of Education through IDEA, Part B funds from the US Department of Education) at 1-800-322-8174.
Dr. Gerald Benaquista
Superintendent of Schools
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
