Application for 2026-2027 School Year

Preschool Advantage Inc.

25 Lindsley Drive, Suite 307 Morristown, New Jersey 07960

Telephone: 973-532-2501 Fax: 973-455-7815

program@preschooladvantage.org

Preschool Advantage opens the doors to preschool and unlocks the possibilities beyond.
- Preschool Advantage provides tuition assistance for 3- and 4-year-old children whose families cannot afford the high cost of preschool.
- Funding is available for either a half-day or a full academic day program.
- Exact hours and the number of spaces vary by school, and full academic day funding is limited to a maximum of 8 hours per day
- Any costs associated with before- or after-care are the family’s responsibility.
- Preschool Advantage is not a school.
- Preschool Advantage partners with 31 high-quality preschools located in Morris and Somerset Counties.
- Our partner schools and their hours are listed on our website.
  Each school reserves a limited number of spaces for children funded by Preschool Advantage.
- Preschool Advantage will serve as the primary contact with schools regarding space availability.
Applications are available on January 20th and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit your application as early as possible to increase your chances of funding.

All information shared with Preschool Advantage is kept confidential and is never shared with other organizations or agencies. Kindly complete each section of this application with as much detail as possible; the information you share will help us develop a better understanding of your family’s situation.

Following the review of complete applications, Preschool Advantage invites families to come to the office for a Family Meeting, an opportunity to learn more about your family and answer any questions you may have. Family Meetings begin in late February and are scheduled on a rolling basis. (translators are available upon request)

Families are notified of final decisions by phone beginning in April.

Preschool Advantage considers many factors when determining eligibility. We consider family income, family size, extenuating circumstances, prior preschool experience, and other information. Every family/application is considered on an individual basis. Below is a graphic of the diverse families Preschool Advantage funded last year.

Child Information
Child's First Name*
Child's Last Name*
Gender*
Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
MM/DD/YYYY
Age by October 1, 2026*
*Child must be 3-or-4-years-old by October 1st, 2026 to be eligible for funding.
Child's Address*
Town*
State*
NJ
Zip code*
Has your child attended preschool or childcare before?*
Name of school/facility*
Dates attended (month/year-month/year)*
Number of days per week*
Number of hours per day*
What is/was the monthly tuition?*
Do/did you receive tuition assistance?*
How much tuition assistance do/did you receive monthly?*
Does your child speak English?*
Does your child speak another language?*
Does your child have any health issues, developmental delays, or disabilities?*
If Yes, please explain*
Has he or she received or been recommended for early intervention?*
If Yes, please explain*
If Preschool Advantage is unable to your family with tuition, what will you do to help your child prepare for kindergarten?*

Houshold Information

Please list any adults and/or siblings living in the house. (Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) Please list the date of birth (DOB) for all siblings*

	Full Name	DOB	Relationship to child
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Is this a single-parent household or two-parent household?*
Parent/Guardian #1 Information (all communications will be sent to PArent/Guardian #1)
Name*
Relationship to child*
Cell phone*
Email*
example@example.com
Preferred method of contact?*
Highest level of education*
Employment status*
If you are a student, please list name of school/facility:*
Job title*
Employer name*
Work address*
Address, Town, State, Zip code
Length of time at this job*
XX years
Previous occupation
Previous employer
Previous work address
Address, Town, State, Zip code
Parent/Guardian #2 Information
Name*
Relationship to child*
Cell phone*
Email*
example@example.com
Preferred method of contact?*
Highest level of education*
Employment status*
If you are a student, please list name of school/facility:*
Job title*
Employer name*
Work address*
Length of time at this job*
XX years
Previous occupation
Previous employer
Previous work address
Demographics/Language Preschool Advantage is dedicated to providing tuition assistance to families of all backgrounds. The following information is used for statistical purposes only and will not be used in the evaluation of your application.
Please select your identifying race/ethnicity*
If other, please list*
Language spoke at home*
If "Other", please specify language here*
Would you like a translator when speaking with us?*
Have any other members of your family received funding from Preschool Advantage or Project Acorn?*
If yes, please list names and years.*

Financial Information
Please include the following with this application.

1. Copy of a completed and signed federal tax return (1040) for the current or previous year.

2. Copy of a current W-2 form for each parent/guardian.

3. Copy of a current pay stub for each parent/guardian.

Exemptions

1.If you cannot provide a paystub and W-2 forms, provide a letter from your employer which includes hours worked and hourly wages. This letter must include contact information for the employer.

2.If you are self-employed, provide a copy of this year's and last year's completed and signed federal tax returns.
Complete and signed federal (1040) for the current or last year

Cancelof
Copy of a current W-2 form for each parent/guardian

Cancelof
Copy of a current pay stub for each parent/guardian

Cancelof
If you cannot provide a paystub and W-2 forms, provide a letter from your employer which includes hours worked and hourly wages. This letter must include contact information for the employer.

Cancelof
If you are self-employed, provide a copy of this year's and last year's completed and signed federal tax returns.

Cancelof
If you are unable to upload the financial documents online, they can be mailed or dropped off at the office.
Gross Income

Pre-tax income. If single-parent household, leave Parent/Guardian #2 blank

Current income per month*

	Parent/Guardian #1	Parent/Guardian #2
Monthly salary/wages
Monthly unemployment benefits
Monthly disability/workers comp
Monthly Social Security
Monthly TANF/cash assistance
Monthly child support (receiving)
Monthly alimony
Monthly veterans' benefits
Monthly retirement pension
Monthly other (please explain below)

If any of the information provided above needs explanation, please share here:

Expenses

(please do not include routine expenses like phone, credit card, food, utilities, transportation)

Monthly expenses*

	Amount
Monthly rent/mortgage payment
Monthly student loans
Unusual medical expenses
Monthly child support
Other (please explain below)

If any of the information provided above needs explanation, please share here (please do not include routine expenses such as phone bill, credit card, food, utilities, transportation):
Do you rent or own your home?*
If "Other" please explain here:*
Your answers to the following questions will not affect your chances for funding from Preschool Advantage.
Do you receive:
SNAP:*
Housing Voucher:*
Medicaid:*
NJ Family Care:*
Have you applied for:
Child & Family Resources:*
Status:*
NORWESCAP:*
Status:*
Head Start:*
Status:*
Public Preschool:*
Status:*
Have there been any recent changes in your life that have affected your financial situation? *
If Yes, please explain:*
Do you anticipate major changes in your financial situation in the coming year? (new employment, expanding family, loss of employment, moving, etc.)*
If Yes, please explain:*
What additional information would like to share that will help us better understand your situation?*
How did you learn about Preschool Advantage?*
If "Preschool Advantage Family/Alumni", please list the names of the Preschool Advantage Family:*
If "Other", please list how you learned about Preschool Advantage*

School Preference
- Preschool Advantage is not a school.
- Preschool Advantage provides tuition assistance for 3- and 4-year-old children whose families cannot afford the high cost of preschool.
- Funding is available for either a half-day or a full academic day program.
- Exact hours and the number of spaces vary by school, and full academic day funding is limited to a maximum of 8 hours per day
Many of the 31 partner preschools offer before and after care. If you are in need of those additional hours, which are beyond what Preschool Advantage covers, you will be financially responsible for the cost and coordinate directly with the preschool. The cost of additional hours is at the school’s discretion.

Please review the list of our Partner Preschools to identify those that may be the best fit for your family. To maximize placement opportunities, we ask that you list three different schools. If your first choice is unavailable, your additional selections will be considered. Preschool Advantage will serve as the primary point of contact with schools regarding space availability. The list of Partner Preschools, along with their school hours, can be found on our website or accessed by clicking the link below.

https://www.preschooladvantage.org/partner-preschool-directory/
1st Choice*
2nd Choice*
*can not be the same preschool as 1st Choice
3rd Choice*
*can not be the same preschool as 1st or 2nd Choice
Do you need a school that offers before or after care? (not funded by Preschool Advantage) *
*The cost of before or after care is not funded by Preschool Advantage.
Funding is available for either a half-day or a full academic day program. Full academic day funding is limited to a maximum of 8 hours per day, with exact hours varying by school.
Please select the type of funding you prefer.*

Parent/Guardian Agreement Form
Please read these Preschool Advantage conditions. If you agree to them, please sign at the bottom of the page.
1. Preschool Advantage funds 3- and 4-year-olds from September to June. When your child reaches 5 years old or qualifies for public Pre-K or Kindergarten, he or she will no longer qualify for Preschool Advantage funding.
2. If at any time you receive funding from another organization, you must notify the Preschool Advantage office immediately to determine continued eligibility.
3. If you choose to enroll your child for hours beyond those funded by Preschool Advantage (before or after care), you will be financially responsible for the cost and you will coordinate directly with the school.
4. You are responsible for getting your child to school on time every day.
5. You are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the school your child attends.
6. We expect your child to attend school regularly, except for illness. If your child will be absent for more than two weeks at a time, you must notify the Preschool Advantage office immediately.
7. You must sign a disclaimer form releasing Preschool Advantage from any liability. (next page)
8. Upon acceptance, you agree to pay a $75 registration fee to Preschool Advantage before your child begins school. (The registration payments received from families are used collectively to fund an additional child)
9. A child is eligible for full academic day funding only if the school in which the child is placed offers a full academic day schedule.
I understand and agree that failure to comply with these conditions may result in the removal of Preschool Advantage’s financial aid for my child.  I confirm that all the information included in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that Preschool Advantage will withdraw or deny funding if any information is found to be inaccurate or misleading.
Parent/Guardian signature*

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Today's Date

Disclaimer
Please read these Preschool Advantage terms. If you agree to them, please sign at the bottom of the page.

Preschool Advantage is not a school.

Preschool Advantage is not affiliated with, has no contract with, has no ability to influence and is not an agent of any Partner Preschools.

Preschool Advantage makes no guarantee about the condition of the premises and facility of a school or the qualifications and/or capabilities of teachers or school staff.

Preschool Advantage has no involvement in or responsibility for any third-party vendors hired by its preschools.

The decision to accept a child for a particular preschool program rests exclusively with the partner preschool. The decision to place the child in that preschool is exclusively up to the parents and/or guardians of the child.

Preschool Advantage is not responsible for any loss, damage or injury that may result from any action or inaction by the partner preschools, their officers, employees, agents, vendors and/or any other representatives, whether negligent, intentional or otherwise.

I understand and agree that failure to comply with the terms in this Disclaimer and the Parent/Guardian Agreement may result in removal of Preschool Advantage's funding.

I have read and agree with the terms in this Disclaimer.
Parent/Guardian Signature*

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date

Please make sure all questions are fully answered before submitting the application. Once you click the "submit" button below, your application will be received. Instructions for the second portion of the application can be found below.

Letter of Support

The second portion of the application is the Letter of Support. It must be completed by someone who is familiar with your family but is not a relative. This may include your child’s current teacher, babysitter, caregiver, therapist, social worker, clergy member, doctor, or another individual who knows your child and family well. Once submitted, the Letter of Support will be attached to your application.

The form is available on our website on the “How Do I Apply?” page. After clicking “Submit,” please proceed to the “How Do I Apply?” page to access and complete the Letter of Support. If the Letter of Support is not submitted, your application may be considered incomplete.

Questions? Need Help?

Please contact the Preschool Advantage office at 973-532-2501.
Should be Empty:

Child Information

Houshold Information

Financial Information

Gross Income

Expenses

School Preference

Parent/Guardian Agreement Form

Disclaimer