Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Announcement for 2026-27 school year:

Apply now for remaining spots in Tuition Free Prekindergarten (non-magnet schools) that have openings:

Edinbrook Elementary School
Fair Oaks Elementary School
Garden City Elementary School
Palmer Lake Elementary School
Park Brook Elementary School
Zanewood Community: A STEAM School

Apply now for remaining spots in Tuition Free Prekindergarten (magnet schools) that have openings:

Birch Grove School for the Arts : Apply online at www.nws.k12.mn.us. Contact Northwest Suburban Integration School District at 763-450-1303 with questions.

Applications received will be processed in the order they arrive to the Enrollment Center.

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS GUIDEBOOK PDF (ENGLISH)

How to apply for Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Application questions? Call the Enrollment Center at 763-585-7350.

Learn about school year 2026–27 attendance boundaries and use school finder tools

Learn the important dates to apply, deadlines and lotteries

Tuition Free Prekindergarten (also called as Voluntary PreK or VPK in Minnesota)

All non-magnet schools:

Applications received after January 15, 2026, will be processed in the order they arrive to the Enrollment Center.
Students who live within the attendance area of the school offering the Tuition Free Prekindergarten program have the highest priority for enrollment.

Applications are considered on a space-available basis for students who meet one of the qualifications to attend and:

Live in the attendance areas of other schools in the district offering Tuition Free Prekindergarten.
May not reside inside a school's attendance area.
Live outside school district boundaries.

Ongoing enrollment through the start of school in fall 2026.
Application questions can be directed to the Enrollment Center staff at (763) 585-7350.

Birch Grove School for the Arts:

Apply online at www.nws.k12.mn.us. Contact Northwest Suburban Integration School District at 763-450-1303 with questions.
Prekindergartners with older siblings currently attending Birch Grove School for the Arts must complete a magnet school application; prekindergartners are not automatically enrolled based on an older sibling’s enrollment.

Complete an application for school year 2026-27

For non-magnet schools, complete the application and return it to Osseo Area Schools' Enrollment Center. Application questions? Call the Enrollment Center at 763-585-7350.

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2026-27 Tuition Free prekindergarten application (Hmong) fillable pdf

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Birch Grove School for the Arts (magnet school): Apply online at www.nws.k12.mn.us. Contact Northwest Suburban Integration School District at 763-450-1303 with questions.

Preschool programs guidebook for schoool year 2026-27

Learn more about Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Tuition Free Prekindergarten, also called Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) in Minnesota is for children who turn 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2026, are not eligible for kindergarten and meet qualifications to attend.

Program highlights

Choice of morning or afternoon class that meets every school day from September 2026 to June 2027.
Play-based learning experiences with staff who help students grow socially, emotionally and academically.
Students build skills and get ready for kindergarten.
Free transportation for eligible students.

This program is made possible by special funding from the state, which recognizes the established link between early learning opportunities and student achievement.

Qualifications to attend

To qualify for Tuition-Free Prekindergarten, families must meet one of the following qualifications by State of Minnesota guidance.

Qualifies for free or reduced-priced meals/ educational benefits
Qualifies for state general financial eligibility requirements.
Is an English Language Learner
Is an American Indian
Has experienced homelessness in the last 24 months
Is identified through health and development screening with a potential risk factor that may influence learning
Is in foster care, kinship care or is in need of child protection services
Has a parent who is a migrant or seasonal agriculture laborer
Has a parent who is incarcerated
Is defined as eligible by the school district. Osseo Area Schools defines this as student who lives in the attendance areas of schools currently zoned for Tuition-Free Prekindergarten.

Program locations

Magnet school

Birch Grove School for the Arts
4690 Brookdale Drive, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Non- magnet schools

Edinbrook Elementary School
8925 Zane Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Elm Creek Elementary School
9830 Revere Lane N, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Fair Oaks Elementary School
5600 65th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

Garden City Elementary School
3501 65th Ave N, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

Oak View Elementary School
6710 East Fish Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Palmer Lake Elementary School
7300 West Palmer Lake Dr., Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

Park Brook Elementary School
7400 Hampshire Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Zanewood Community: A STEAM School
7000 Zane Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

Frequently asked questions and answers

What are the qualifications for Tuition Free Prekindergarten?

Students must qualify to attend this program for free. Students must meet one of the following criteria based on State of Minnesota guidance.

Qualifies for free or reduced-priced meals/educational benefits
Qualifies for state general financial eligibility requirements listed in Minn. Stat. 119B.09, Sub 1, paragraph (a), clause 2
Is an English Language Learner
Is an American Indian
Has experienced homelessness in the last 24 months
Is identified through health and development screening with a potential risk factor that may influence learning
Is in foster care, kinship care, or is in need of child protection services
Has a parent who is a migrant or seasonal agriculture laborer
Has a parent who is incarcerated
Is defined as eligible by the school district. Osseo Area Schools defines this as students who live in the attendance areas zoned for our current Free, Half-Day, Every day Prekindergarten schools. First priority is given to students whose home residence is within the attendance area of one of those schools. The student must be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025 and not eligible for Kindergarten.

How do I find my child's attendance area school?

How do I apply and what are the application lottery deadlines?

Birch Grove School for the Arts:
Apply: Oct. 15-Dec. 17, 2025 {Lottery 1: January 14}
Apply: Jan. 21-March 11 {Lottery 2: Mar 25:}

All other Tuition Free Prekindergarten schools (non-magnet):
Apply: Nov. 15- Jan. 15 {Lottery 1: Jan. 20:};

Ongoing enrollment through the start of school in fall 2026.

Complete one of the following applications

2025-26 Free Half Day, Every Day prekindergarten attendance area school application

2025-26 free Half Day, every day prekindergarten open enrollment school choice application

Is transportation available for my student?

Visit the Transportation Department website.

Free transportation is available to eligible students who live 0.8 mile or more from their school. To request transportation, please email busquestions@district279.org If request is received by August 14, 2026, transportation will start the first day of school (if eligible) for the 2026-27 school year. Requests received after August 14, 2026 will be processed in the order received once routes are open in mid-September.
Mid-day transportation (from school to home if enrolled in morning prekindergarten, or from home to school if afternoon prekindergarten) for eligible students, is the responsibility of the parent/guardian until mid-day bus routes have been arranged by transportation staff (this may take up to three weeks).
Children whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) requires specialized transportation will need to contact the Due Process Clerk at their student’s school to have them request specialized busing.

When can I meet my child's teacher and see the classroom?

Does my child need to be toilet trained before starting school?

Please check with each program for their specific toilet-training expectations. Our programs ask that children are mostly self-sufficient with bathroom needs; while recognizing every child develops at their own pace and we partner with families to support that growth.

For families seeking additional guidance, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) offers several supportive resources:

Video: Watch Toileting at Preschool for practical tips and expectations.
Live online Q&A sessions: Join an ECFE Parent Educator for a FREE online, supportive group discussion. Two sessions to choose from: March 9, 2026 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. or March 17, 2026 - 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Personalized support: Connect with a licensed parent educator for individual phone consultations, home visits, or specialized classes.

Questions? Call 763-391-8777 or email ECFE@district279.org

My child currently attends a preschool program in Osseo Area Schools. Do I need to complete the kindergarten enrollment process?

Osseo Area Schools is transitioning to new attendance boundaries for the 2026-27 school year. Please look at both School Finder tools to determine your household's school assignments now and into the future.

Will my child go to the same school for preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten?

Enrollment in Osseo Area Schools’ preschool and prekindergarten programs does not automatically transfer to kindergarten. Parents/guardians will need to complete kindergarten enrollment for their child. Learn about how to enroll your child in kindergarten on the district website osseoschools.org/enroll.

Exceptions include:

1). Students who are enrolled in the district’s Tuition Free Prekindergarten program (they are promoted to their attendance area school for kindergarten).

2). At Birch Grove School for the Arts (a magnet school through Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) students enrolled in Tuition Free Prekindergarten or Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) will be promoted to kindergarten. If their home school offers an ECSE program, parents/guardians can choose for their child to attend there or continue at Birch Grove.

3). Students receiving special education services will be contacted by their case manager if the assigned school is not their area school of attendance.

In This Section

Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Announcement for 2026-27 school year:

How to apply for Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Learn about school year 2026–27 attendance boundaries and use school finder tools

Learn the important dates to apply, deadlines and lotteries

Tuition Free Prekindergarten (also called as Voluntary PreK or VPK in Minnesota)

All non-magnet schools:

Complete an application for school year 2026-27

Preschool programs guidebook for schoool year 2026-27

Learn more about Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Tuition Free Prekindergarten

Qualifications to attend

Program locations

Frequently asked questions and answers

What are the qualifications for Tuition Free Prekindergarten?

How do I find my child's attendance area school?

How do I apply and what are the application lottery deadlines?

Is transportation available for my student?

When can I meet my child's teacher and see the classroom?

Does my child need to be toilet trained before starting school?

My child currently attends a preschool program in Osseo Area Schools. Do I need to complete the kindergarten enrollment process?

Contact us