Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5)

The NYC Online Certified Teacher Application is currently closed for the 2024-25 school year. If you currently hold a NYS Certification, please complete the Express Interest survey below for mid-year early childhood opportunities and for 2025-26 application updates.  

EXPRESS INTEREST 

3K Expansion Announcement 

In September 2022, the City expanded to offer 3K to as many families as possible in the remaining sixteen school districts. 

• In school districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 19, 23, 27, 31, and 32, there is a 3K seat for every three-year-old 
• In school districts 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, and 30, NYCPS (New York City Public Schools) will offer 3K seats to as many three-year-olds as possible  

Types of Programs 

Through the historic Pre-K and 3K initiatives, New York City is leading the nation in making free, full-day, high-quality Pre-K and 3K accessible to all of its four-year-olds, three-year-olds, and infants/toddlers—an initiative propelled by great teachers. Pre-K and 3K teachers design dynamic classroom experiences that captivate New York City’s youngest learners and instill the critical vocabulary, oral language, and problem-solving skills they need to flourish in kindergarten and beyond. 

Pre-K and 3K programs operate in a variety of settings. Early childhood educators can teach in one of 650+ district school programs or in one of more than 1,000 community-based New York City Early Childhood Education Centers (CBOs), operated by a diverse range of community-based organizations. 

New York City Early Childhood Community Based Organizations and Family Child Care Networks are independent organizations that contract with New York City Public Schools to provide free, full-day, high-quality early childhood programs for four-year-olds, three-year-olds, and infants/toddlers. These partnerships offer diverse options for families in all five boroughs. 

Earn Your Early Childhood Certification 

Applicants who want to teach Pre-K or 3K in a district school, must hold or be on track to hold one of the following New York State teaching certificates to be eligible to apply: 

• Early Childhood (Birth – Grade 2) 
• Nursery, Kindergarten and Grades 1 – 6 (N – 6) 
• Prekindergarten – Grade 6 (P – 6) 
• Students with Disabilities (Birth – Grade 2) 

To teach in a district school, candidates must hold one of the certificates listed above by September 1 of the upcoming school year. 

To teach in a NYC Early Childhood Community Based Organization CBO, candidates must either hold or be on track to earning one of the certificates above. It is an opportunity for educators passionate about working with young children to earn their early childhood certification while teaching. NYC Early Childhood Community Based Organization CBO Study Plan teachers must complete their certification within three years of being hired. 

For more details on certification, please visit the NY State Department of Education website. 

Diverse Teaching Opportunities 

Pre-K and 3K offer diverse teaching opportunities for educators of all certification levels. Learn more by visiting Applications + FAQs to find your pathway and apply now.