Hello Newark Families and Community Members,

We hope you are enjoying the summer and staying cool. With the summer in full swing, we are sharing some updates to help you continue enjoying your break and start preparing for the upcoming school year. See topics below:

  • Summer Grocery Benefits for Kids
  • Summer Reading List
  • 24-25 New and Returning Student Registration Tips and Reminders
  • 24-25 School Enrollment Options Still Available
  • Back to School Events Around Newark
Summer Grocery Benefits for Kids

The state of New Jersey will issue a $120 EBT card to every eligible student’s home to purchase food this summer. To see if your student is eligible and/or apply for this benefit, please contact your student’s school from the 23-24 school year.

Benefit cards will be mailed to households beginning in mid-June and throughout the summer to the home address you provided to your student’s school in the 23-24 school year. Please note that the Summer EBT card is separate from a SNAP card, P-EBT card, or any other benefit cards. Once mailed, cards may take a few weeks to be delivered.

If you need to change your mailing address for this benefit, it must be done with your student’s school. For more information, please visit this website: https://www.nj.gov/summerebt/
Summer Reading List

Summer reading lists are available from the Newark Board of Education and My Brothers Keeper Newark. Click the links below to view and download:
24-25 New and Returning Student Registration Tips and Reminders

Proof of Residency:
If your student is returning to the same school this fall, you are likely being asked for an updated proof of residency documentation by the school. Be sure to complete this important request as soon as possible. Schools require this information yearly to confirm the residency status of all students and to obtain crucial yearly funding.

New Student Registration:
If you are newly enrolling into a school this year, be sure to complete the new student registration process and participate in any new student orientations taking place before the school year begins. This guarantees that your student will have a seat in that school this fall! If schools don’t hear from you, they might give your seat to another student.

Out of District Registration:
Are you an out of district family (families that attend a school in Newark but live in a different New Jersey city)? Don’t forget to begin the out of district registration process!

Out of district registration is the process of confirming that you attend a school in Newark but live in another district, such as Irvington or East Orange. It doesn’t mean that you’re registering to attend a school in your home district or that you will lose your seat at the Newark school you currently attend. It’s just a way for districts to confirm where all of the children in their district attend school. It is also closely tied to important funding that is given to each school every year.

Aid in Lieu of Transportation:
Did you know that you can potentially get money back for transporting your student to and from an out of district school? Out of district families (families that attend a school in Newark but live in a different New Jersey city) are able to sign up for aid in lieu of transportation funding for all of their students that attend a school outside of their home district. Funding is typically given at the end of the school year but you have to sign up for it in the summer! In order to apply for this benefit, you must complete the out of district registration process with your home district and ask your home district for the application.

If you have questions or concerns about any of the above topics be sure to contact your school’s main office or ask us at My Schools Newark!
There is Still Time to Enroll!
Schools in the Newark Enrolls and Newark Common App are still filling seats for the upcoming school year and many still have space for your Kindergartener. If you haven’t found a school for your student or if you’re looking for a change, be sure to visit the links above for schools available to apply!

Are you still on waitlists for schools and not sure what to do? The waitlist process can be a long and frustrating ordeal. Since there is no guarantee that you will be called off the waitlist for your intended school, you should always have a backup plan!

  • If you are a Newark resident, you can obtain a guaranteed seat via the Newark Enrolls enrollment system.

  • If you reside outside of Newark, this also applies as your home district is required to provide you with a school for your student(s).

  • It’s always best to maintain the seat with your current school in case you are not called off the waitlist for one of your school choices.

  • And if you are offered a seat from the waitlist, you can simply accept it and decline enrollment with your current school. This will allow them to offer the seat to another family that wants to attend.
Back to School Events Around Newark

On Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 10am-2pm, the Essex County Department of Citizens Services will host its 3rd Annual Back-to-School Open House Event. There will be free food, backpacks and school supply giveaways to the first 700 students in attendance. There will also be haircuts, entertainment, music and activities for the kids! Register Today!