Each spring, school districts are required to report their prekindergarten (PreK) child counts (enrollment numbers), regardless of the funding that supports their program. For the 2023-24 school year, all student counts must be inputted via the Student Information Repository System (SIRS) and the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System, as applicable, on or before the close of business on March 13, 2024.

For the 2023-2024 school year, PreK child counts must reflect the actual PreK enrollment as of March 13, 2024. Please note that this is a change from previous years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, districts were temporarily given an opportunity to report enrollment through multiple pull dates and recoup funds for any child educated in their program. This provision of counting "ever-enrolled" has ended.

Districts with State and Federal Allocations (applicable project codes 0409 and 5870)

Student enrollment counts must be entered in the Student Information Repository System (SIRS). SIRS currently includes two Pre-K program codes – 902 for Universal Pre-K and 990 for “Other” Pre-K. Please follow the instructions in the chart at the end of this document for reporting prekindergarten students in SIRS. Failure to code children appropriately may result in a reduction in the amount that a district can be reimbursed for the prekindergarten services it provides during the 2023-2024 school year. If you have questions, please reach out to your OEL Liaison or OEL@nysed.gov with the subject line 2023-24 UPK Child Counts.

Districts with SUFDPK Grant Awards (applicable project codes 0545, 5875, 0546)

SIRS does not provide a distinct student code for children funded through the SUFDPK grant, therefore PreK enrollment for districts with SUFDPK funding will utilize the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System. Districts will receive an automated email in February 2024 to complete the 2023-2024 SUFDPK Child Counts Survey. In this survey, districts will specify the number of children enrolled half-day, full-day, and by provider type (district, Head Start, day care center, etc.).

NOTE: If a school district utilizes both UPK and SUFDPK funds, it will need to record enrollment using each of the methods indicated above.

If you have questions, please reach out to your OEL Liaison or OEL@nysed.gov with subject line 2023-24 UPK Child Counts.

It is extremely important to ensure accurate and complete data are reported, as errors in coding may result in a reduction in the district’s reimbursement amount for the provision of 2023-2024 prekindergarten services. To ensure accuracy of reporting, districts will be contacted by the Office of Early Learning when/if coding errors are found. The district will then need to contact their Regional Information Center (RIC) or Level 1 operator to fix. The last day to fix any coding errors for the 2023-24 school year will be June 7, 2024.

Questions regarding how to code students should be directed first to a district’s local Regional Information Center (RIC) or Level 1 operator. A list of RIC and Big 5 City District Contacts can be accessed at Level 1 RIC/Big5 Contacts for LEAs. Questions about reporting data in SIRS can be directed to the Office of Information and Reporting Services at datasupport@nysed.gov.