Mount Laurel Schools
Free Full-Day Public Preschool
Mount Laurel Schools offers a high-quality, full-day preschool program for three and four-year-olds at both in-district schools and local provider sites. The program is aligned with the New jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards which addresses all domains of learning. We provide a whole child approach that promotes a child's long-term development and growth.
Mount Laurel Schools offers inclusive general education preschool classes for three and four-year old students and specialized preschool classes for three and four-year old students with disabilities.
Questions regarding the registration process may be emailed to
[email protected], Documents may also be faxed to 856-235-1604 or placed in the mail slot at the front door of the Mount Laurel Schools Administration Building, 330 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, Attn: Registration.
Preschool Lottery Registration Eligibility
To be eligible to register for the Preschool Lottery, a child needs to reside in Mount Laurel and be three or four years of age by October 1st.
Lottery Process
Mount Laurel Schools will use a lottery system. The lottery process will be held to randomly select preschool students. When the number of students needed to fill the available preschool spots is reached, applications will continue to be drawn and this group of students will be placed on a waitlist. If a student drops out or declines a placement and a vacancy occurs, we will go to the next applicant on the waitlist. The waitlist will remain active and will be utilized throughout the year. Parents of selected students will be notified by mail and email following the lottery.
Project Child Find
Parents who suspect their preschool-age child may have special needs may obtain free help from the district's Child Study Team. This team of district professionals works with families to locate and provide services for those children who are three to five years old who may have physical, cognitive, language, social, or emotional difficulties. Screening, professional guidance, and placement in a preschool educational program (if needed) are all available free of charge through the district's Child Study Team at 856-235-3417.
Additional information is available on NJDOE Project Child Find. Project Child Find is a free referral and awareness service of NJDOE to help identify children from birth through 21 years of age who may experience difficulties in academic, and/or physical, emotional and cognitive areas, which result in a disability. For more information, call Project Child Find at 1-800-322-8174.
Children under the age of three who demonstrate delays in development are eligible for free services and support programs. Contact Early Intervention Services toll free at 1-888-653-4463.
Preschool Attendance
Research shows that preschoolers who miss 10 percent or more of the school year arrive at kindergarten with lower levels of school readiness skills. School enrollment is not mandatory under age 6, however once enrolled all students must follow the district attendance policy (5113: Attendance, Absences, and Excuses). Regular school attendance is essential to a child's learning and social emotional development. Excessive absences and tardiness disrupt the learning process for your child and others as well as the teacher’s lessons.
The District is responsible for limiting the number of students who are chronically absent. The State of NJ considers all students who are absent for 10% or more of the school year to be Chronically Absent. Students ages 5 and under with truant matters cannot be taken to court, however students ages 5 and under with truant matters may be dropped from the roster. For cumulative unexcused absences of 10 or more, your child may be dropped from the roster. Dropping a student is neither expulsion or punitive.
Mount Laurel Preschool Program is a full-day 6 1/2-hour program. While we understand that certain circumstances may arise, children are expected to consistently attend the duration of the school day. Children in attendance for less than 4 hours of the 6 1/2-hour program may be considered absent from school. For cumulative partial day absences, your child may be dropped from the roster. Dropping a student is neither expulsion or punitive.
The district will make every effort to work with parents to support their child's attendance in school. Children with IEPs will be pursued through truancy when appropriate and will not be dropped from the program.
2025-2026
Preschool Locations
Bright Beginnings: 38 3115 NJ Route 38, Suite 400 (856) 866-0039 |
Bright Beginnings: Church 641 South Church Street (856) 866-0039 |
Fleetwood Elementary School 231 Fleetwood Avenue (856) 235-3004 |
Hillside Elementary School 1370 Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road (856) 235-1341 |
Just Children Greentree 14000 Commerce Parkway (856) 234-8687 |
Kindercare - Larchmont 450 Larchmont Boulevard (856) 778-8648 |
Larchmont Elementary School 301 Larchmont Boulevard (856) 273-3700 |
Lightbridge Academy 4518 Church Road East (856) 552-2808 |
Little Darlings Child Care Center 624 Mount Laurel Road (856) 787-0737 |
Parkway Elementary School 142 Ramblewood Parkway (856) 235-3364 |
The Learning Experience 809 South Church Street (856) 581-0297 |
YMCA - Briggs 1001 Briggs Road, Suite 275 (856) 266-9922 |
YMCA - Commerce 14000 Commerce Parkway (609) 326-0875 |
* Note that the school-day for all locations will be 6 hours and 30 minutes. Exact school hours will be confirmed during the summer of 2025.
Before and Aftercare
For inquiries about before- and after-care at
Private Provider locations, please click
here. Please note that we cannot provide transportation from one childcare center to another for before- or aftercare.
Before- and aftercare are not available at
District Elementary Schools. However, Mt. Laurel's Transportation Department can transport students from District Elementary Schools to nearby childcare centers for before- and aftercare. Information about this can be found by clicking
here.
2024-2025
Frequently Asked Questions
PRESCHOOL RESOURCES