If you are seeking transcript verification please make your request to: transcriptrecords@epsnj.org
Please allow 7-10 days business days for your request to be met.

Registration — Early Childhood Classes

The Elizabeth Board of Education offers free, high quality, full day, age and developmentally appropriate preschool and kindergarten classes to all eligible Elizabeth children. To enroll in preschool, a child must live in Elizabeth with his or her parent/guardian and reach the age of either three or four on or before October 1st. To enroll in kindergarten, a child must also live in Elizabeth with his or her parent or guardian and must celebrate his or her fifth birthday on or before October 1st.  In addition to regular full day preschool classes, the Elizabeth Board of Education also provides extended day and extended year programs for three and four-year-olds at specific sites throughout the city.  For more information on these programs, please call the Office of Early Childhood Education at 908-436-5353.

Registration dates for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are published in all of the area’s newspapers each year and are featured on the local cable network’s Community Bulletin Board. You may also call the Office of Early Childhood Education for registration dates, times, and locations. To register your child for preschool or kindergarten, you must present your son or daughter’s birth certificate, his/her immunization records, and proof of Elizabeth residency in the form of a recent property tax bill, a current lease, or a notarized letter from your landlord if a lease is not available. If you bring a notarized letter to document your Elizabeth residency, please also bring two additional forms of identification that list your name and address.

Registration — Grades Kindergarten through Twelve

Welcome Center High School
600 Pearl Street
Elizabeth, NJ 

Children’s Welcome Center Grades K-8
507 Westminster Avenue
Elizabeth, NJ 908.552.7500

Registration — Required Documents for all Grades (Pre-K through 12)

The child’s birth certificate, his/her immunization records, physical examination (within one year), and proof of residency as listed below. Please provide one of the following to meet your five point requirement:
___ Deed                                                              ___ Mortgage

___ Current Property Tax Bill                                  ___ Landlord Affidavit (form 6-C)”

___ Current Lease or 5-C form

Four of the following (All must have your name and address)

___ Government Issued Identification                  ___ Credit card bill

___ Current Gas bill                                              ___ Current Electrical Bill

___ Current Cable Bill                                           ___ Benefit Statement

___ Current Water/sewer Bill                                ___ Current Cell Phone Bill

___ Homeowner Insurance                                   ___ Auto Insurance

___ Paystub from Employer                                  ___ Bank Statement

A parent or guardian must be present for the registration process.

School Security

For the welfare of all students and staff members, all visitors, who wish to enter school buildings during the arrival/dismissal periods, must wait until all students have entered/departed the building before entering and proceeding to the main office to sign in.  All visitors must have an appointment. School staff members will issue visitor passes and arrange for teachers to meet with parents/guardians. Please be aware that metal detectors are in use in all of our schools to safeguard the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors

District Crisis Plan

The Elizabeth School District maintains a comprehensive Crisis Management Plan designed to provide administrators, teachers, parents and students with specific guidelines to follow in the event of any type of emergency situation. Each school also has its own plan that includes information specific to the school such as designated evacuation sites and emergency phone chains. Please contact your child’s school with questions relevant to the district or the school’s Crisis Plan.

Emergency School Closings

Announcements regarding school closings or delayed openings due to inclement weather or any other emergency situation will be made using Blackboard Connect electronic messaging system and will be available on the following Emergency School Closing stations:

Radio Stations: WCBS- AM, WNBC-AM, WOR-710 AM, NJ 101.5 FM, WCTC- 1450 AM, WMGQ-MAGIC 98.3 FM. Television Stations: News 12 New Jersey, Verizon Fios1, WCBSTV, WABC-TV and FOX 5/WNYW.

This information will be posted on the district’s website (www.epsnj.org) as well as the district’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/epsnj) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/epsBOARD) pages.  In the event of an emergency that may require school closing, parents may also call the main phone numbers of their child’s school. If schools are to be closed or if a delayed opening is planned, each principal will record a message to this effect that can be retrieved by anyone calling the school’s main phone number. We request that parents and students not call police headquarters, City Hall, the radio or television stations listed above, or Board of Education offices for emergency closing information.

Emergency Student Information

In the event of a medical emergency or any other event that necessitates immediate contact with parents or guardians, schools must have on file a current address and current phone numbers (home, business, cell, etc.) for every one of their students, as well as the phone number of a friend or family member who will know how to contact the student’s parent/guardian if an emergency does arise. If you move or change jobs, please remember to update your child’s school records and emergency information as soon as possible. A form can be found on the district website.

No treatment beyond first aid can be given at any hospital or doctor’s office without a parent or legal guardian’s consent. Any delay in reaching you could prove hazardous to your child’s health.

Medications

Students may not carry medication with them during the school day. Any student who must receive medication during school hours must have the medication hand-carried to the school nurse by his/her parent or guardian. The medication must be in the original pharmacy container and must be accompanied by a note from the child’s physician indicating why, how, and when the medication should be given.

In keeping with the district’s Crisis Management Plan, if a child has a condition, such as diabetes or epilepsy, that can be life-threatening without the timely administration of the proper medication, his/her parents/guardians are asked to discuss this situation with the school nurse so that the proper precautions can be taken in the event of an emergency situation.

Health Policies

It is the responsibility of school authorities to protect the school population from the spread of communicable diseases while at the same time making every effort to minimize the loss of school time by the involved students. Do not send your child to school with an unexplained rash, or if your child complains of a headache, fever, upset stomach, runny nose, or other cold-related symptoms, or if he/she doesn’t appear to be in good health. Consult your physician for a diagnosis. Also, please notify the school if your child is absent because of a communicable disease so that we may safeguard the health of other students.

Physical Examinations and Health Screenings

According to New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:16-2, students should have a physical examination at least one time during each developmental stage. These stages are described as the early childhood stage (preschool through the third grade), the pre-adolescent stage (the fourth through the sixth grade), and the adolescent stage (the seventh through the twelfth grade). Each of these examinations is to be done by the student’s own doctor, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist. Reports concerning these examinations must be recorded on the Elizabeth Public Schools’ Health Record Form and must be submitted to the school nurse. These forms are available through each school’s medical office.

If a student doesn’t have a family doctor or healthcare provider, a school physician will perform the student’s medical examination in a district school health office after the student’s parent/guardian signs a form indicating that this is the case. Parents are invited to be present at these examinations and may contact the school nurse for the date and time of their child’s exam.  Students must receive a physical examination from a physician or healthcare provider within one year prior to their initial entry into the Elizabeth Public Schools. Students who have not submitted documentation verifying they have received their initial physical examination prior to their first day upon entering the school district will not be permitted to attend school.

According to law, every student between the ages of ten and eighteen is screened for scoliosis every two years. Tuberculin testing is also performed on all students as directed by the New Jersey State Department of Health. If you prefer to have your private physician or healthcare provider perform the scoliosis exam and the tuberculin testing, you must notify your child’s school nurse at the beginning of each school year. Health professionals are authorized by the State of New Jersey Department of Health to do dental, vision, hearing and blood pressure screenings for the safety and well-being of our students.

Parent Teacher Associations
Parent Teacher Organizations

Each school in the Elizabeth School District has either a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) that all parents are encouraged to join. For more information about parent organizations, please contact your child’s school.

Breakfast and Lunch Programs

Elizabeth Public Schools’ Breakfast and Lunch Programs provides nutritionally balanced meals to thousands of students each day. 

School lunch can be purchased daily, or you can set up an account and pay in advance.  The full price for a lunch meal is $3.00 for grades prek to 8th, and $3.60 for grades 9th through 12th, breakfast is free to all students.  

The Elizabeth Public Schools offers free or reduced-priced lunches for families with limited resources.   Families can apply for free or reduced-priced meals online by clicking Online Free and Reduced Price Meal Application, the process is easy and fast and available 24hrs a day.  

For more details, please visit our Food and Nutrition website.  

Thank you for your continued support.

Report Cards

Report cards are issued quarterly. The dates on which these reports can be expected are specified in the calendar section of this website.

School Sessions

The schools session for Pre-Kindergarten students runs from 8:20 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.  A Pre-Kindergarten Catapult Wrap Around Program is available at Schools No. 1, 2, 5, 5B, 7, 16, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 50, 51, and 52.  This program runs from 7:30 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The school session for students in grades K-8 runs from 8:20 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. 

The school session for students in grades 9-12 runs from 7:45 a.m. through 2:29 p.m.   

After-school and summer programs are available. Information about these programs are available on the district website.

Affirmative Action

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Elizabeth Board of Education hereby gives public notice of the district’s policy for Equal Educational Opportunity:

No student attending the Elizabeth Public Schools shall be denied access to or benefit from any educational or vocational program or activity solely on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, nationality, place of residence within the district, socioeconomic status, disability, or pregnancy.

Peter Vosseler, Affirmative Action Officer 908-436-5317

Special Programs

The Elizabeth Public Schools offer a number of programs geared to meet the special needs of our students. Programs are available in Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language Education, Special Education, Vocational Education, and in Gifted and Talented Education to name just a few. More information on any of these programs is available through your child’s school.

In compliance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Parents-Right-to-Know, the Elizabeth Board of Education hereby gives public notice that parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teachers. This request must be made in writing to the school principal.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and all students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records.

Parents and eligible students have:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. The parent or eligible student should submit to the school principal or appropriate school official a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. The parent or eligible student should write the school principal or appropriate official, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed. They should specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise him/her of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member, including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel, Board of Education members, a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist, or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. The school district will forward a copy of the records on request and will forward a copy of the requested records to the parent or eligible student.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by a school or school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)

Notice of Directory Information: Public law also gives access to information about students to educational, occupational, and military recruiters. Parents or students who are eighteen years of age or older may request to have their children’s names or their names deleted from the student directory.

Notification of Rights under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or emancipated minors the collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams.

These include the right to:

Give consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the United States Department of Education:

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent(s);

• Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

• Sexual behavior or attitudes;

• Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

• Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

• Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, physicians, and ministers;

• Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

• Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:

• Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

• Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and

• Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

Inspect upon request and before administration or use of:

• Protected information surveys of students;

• Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

• Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

The Elizabeth School District has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. The Elizabeth School District will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. The Elizabeth School District will also directly notify parents and eligible students of the specific or approximate dates of the following activities and provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution;

• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by the Department of Education; or

• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents or eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

The Elizabeth Board of Education shall maintain a working and learning environment that is free from all forms of harassment, intimidation, or bullying/cyber bullying (EBOE Policy Code 5131.1) on school property, at any school sponsored events, on a school bus or other form of transportation, and via electronic means.

All district employees who have witnessed, or have reliable information, that a staff member or student has been subject to harassment, intimidation or bullying must report the incident to the appropriate school/district office designated by the administration. All other members of the school community, including students, parents, volunteers, and visitors, are encouraged to report any act that may be a violation of this policy. The Board shall not tolerate an act of reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. This policy and accompanying regulations and exhibits may be viewed in their entirety at the Board Administrative offices or on our website: No Bully Zone

Integrated Pest Management Policy

To comply with the New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act, this notice alerts all parents, guardians and staff members that the Elizabeth Board of Education has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy and has implemented an IPM Plan at the district level and at each school to comply with this law. IPM in a holistic, preventative approach to managing pests that is explained further in EBOE Policy Code 3510. You can see EBOE Policy Code 3510 for further information regarding IPM on the district’s website: www.epsnj.org

Peter Vosseler, Supervisor of Anti-Bullying
908-436-5317

Integrated Pest Management Policy

To comply with the New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act, this notice alerts all parents, guardians and staff members that the Elizabeth Board of Education has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy and has implemented an IPM Plan at the district level and at each school to comply with this law. IPM is a holistic, preventative approach to managing pests that is explained further in EBOE Policy Code 3510. You can see EBOE Policy Code 3510 for further information regarding IPM on the district’s website: www.epsnj.org.