Families who wish to apply for their student to attend Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ prekindergarten program in the 2026-2027 school year may do so online beginning on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The registration link will be available at www.aacps.org/earlychildhood beginning at 8 a.m.
AACPS will offer prekindergarten programs for 4-year-olds in 63 schools across the county in the 2026-2027 school year.
As called for by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Blueprint), families will apply for prekindergarten through a centralized online enrollment process that is managed by the AACPS Early Childhood Office. Prekindergarten registration is no longer first come, first served.
AACPS is required to offer prekindergarten enrollment to families who qualify under the priority enrollment qualification set forth in the Blueprint. This qualification is a household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or families experiencing homelessness.
Should seats remain after enrollment of students in the above tier, AACPS may enroll students in other tiers. These tiers, in priority order, are:
household income between 301% and 360% of the Federal Poverty Level
household income between 361% and 450% of the Federal Poverty Level
household income between 451% and 600% of the Federal Poverty Level
household income greater than 600% of the Federal Poverty Level
Information about prekindergarten programs in AACPS and an online application can be found at www.aacps.org/earlychildhood beginning at 8 a.m. on May 5, 2026.
Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026. Registration must be done by a parent or legal guardian.
When applying, families must upload:
the student’s original birth certificate or birth record.
a copy of the student’s immunization record.
two proofs of residency (rental or mortgage agreement and current utility bill).
custody order (if applicable).
Additionally, families must list household size and the household annual gross income on the application. Household members include children and anyone who is living in the home that share income and expenses, even if not related. Income documentation must be uploaded at the time of application for each adult member of the household. Acceptable proof of income documentation is available at https://www.aacps.org/o/aacps/page/prekindergarten-mixed-delivery.
Families will be offered a seat in the program at the closest prekindergarten location with availability.
Families who do not have internet access or who need additional assistance completing an application should contact the school at which they intend to enroll their student. School staff are able to assist families with completion of the online application.
Information about the recommended immunizations for children entering school is available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.
Families with further questions or individual concerns can contact the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Early Childhood Office at earlychildhood@aacps.org.