Elizabeth BOE Meetings, 2026–27 School Dates, Registration & Parent Services
The Elizabeth Board of Education governs Elizabeth Public Schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey. This practical guide covers the 2026–27 school opening, Board meetings and members, registration, attendance zones, PowerSchool, transportation, Special Services, meals, records and family support.
It also handles details families can easily miss: different K–8 and high-school registration centers, a separate Special Services route, the November Board meeting that falls on a Tuesday, My Ride K-12’s disabled live tracking, PowerSchool district code KRPX, FERPA record rights, multilingual help, McKinney-Vento protections and current-year document freshness.
Elizabeth Board of Education quick facts
District office
500 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208.
Main phone
Superintendent
Dr. Olga Hugelmeyer.
Board structure
Nine members serving three-year terms.
District scale
The district currently highlights 37 schools.
Enrollment snapshot
The district currently highlights 27,337 students.
First student day
September 10, 2026.
Next BOE meeting
August 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., subject to current notice.
Correct entity: this guide is for Elizabeth Public Schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Do not use calendars or meeting information from Elizabeth School District in Colorado or another similarly named district.
Use it for the live Board member list, meeting navigation, policies, committees, presentations and budget resources.
Open the official Elizabeth Board of Education page →Board issue or school-service issue?
| Your task | Best first route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Board policy / governance | Board of Education | Direct Board-level matter. |
| Next public meeting | Meeting Dates | Meetings can be changed or rescheduled. |
| What Board considered | Agenda / Minutes | Use formal Board records rather than summaries. |
| K–8 registration | Children’s Welcome Center | Current K–8 appointment route is at 507 Westminster. |
| Grades 9–12 registration | High School Welcome Center | Current standard high-school registration is at 600 Pearl. |
| Student with an IEP | Special Services Registration | Separate K–12 registration process applies. |
| Bus route | Transportation | Transportation manages route and My Ride information. |
| Grades / attendance / reports | PowerSchool / school | Protected student information belongs in the Parent Portal. |
| Bullying / HIB | School Anti-Bullying Specialist | Each school has a designated specialist. |
| Transcript | Student Services | Transcript requests are separate from public records. |
Elizabeth Public Schools: when students start in 2026
The live district calendar makes an important distinction between staff opening days and the first student day.
| Date | Event | Parent takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 2026 | New Team Member Orientation | Not a student day. |
| Sept. 3 | Opening Day for 10-Month Administrators | Administrative opening. |
| Sept. 4 & 7 | Labor Day Weekend | District closure period. |
| Sept. 8 | Administrators, Team Members & Faculty Meetings | Students do not start September 8. |
| Sept. 9 | Professional Development Day | Staff development. |
| Sept. 10 | Schools Open for Students | First student day currently listed. |
| Sept. 17 | Board Agenda/Business Meeting | 5:30 p.m. current listing. |
| Sept. 21 | Yom Kippur | District calendar lists closure. |
Common error: September 8 may appear in search results as “schools open,” but the current entry is for administrators, team members and faculty meetings. Students are listed to begin on September 10, 2026.
Use the live calendar again immediately before the date because public notices, weather and district updates can alter schedules.
Check the current EPS calendar →Elizabeth school session times
| Student level | District-listed session | Extra detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 8:20 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | Selected sites have Catapult wraparound programming. |
| Grades K–8 | 8:20 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | Check building-specific arrival and dismissal instructions. |
| Grades 9–12 | 7:45 a.m.–2:29 p.m. | Academy orientation/activity schedules can differ. |
Do not confuse office hours with school hours. District webpages commonly show 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. in their footer; that is the district’s listed hours of operation, not the student instructional day.
Elizabeth Board of Education upcoming meetings
The Board overview describes regular meetings as one Thursday evening per month at 5:30 p.m. at Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center, but the dated schedule—not the recurring description—should control.
Next scheduled meeting as of August 14, 2026: August 20, 2026 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at 544 Pennsylvania Avenue.
| Date | Current time | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 20, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Agenda/Business Meeting | 544 Pennsylvania Avenue |
| Sept. 17 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Agenda/Business Meeting | 544 Pennsylvania Avenue |
| Oct. 15 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Agenda/Business Meeting | 544 Pennsylvania Avenue |
| Nov. 24 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Agenda/Business Meeting | 544 Pennsylvania Avenue |
| Dec. 17 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Agenda/Business Meeting | 544 Pennsylvania Avenue |
November is the obvious exception: November 24, 2026 is a Tuesday. Elizabeth also changed meeting dates in March, May and July 2026, so never calculate the next meeting from “one Thursday a month.”
Before attending
Open the dated meeting entry
Confirm the date, time and building.
Look for a newer public notice
Rescheduling notices can supersede a previously published date.
Check the agenda archive
Confirm whether the issue you care about appears in Board materials.
Recheck participation instructions
Special or online meetings may publish their own registration or written-comment procedure.
Agenda freshness: as of this audit, the 2026–27 agenda archive was showing the July 21 public draft. An agenda not yet appearing for an upcoming meeting does not by itself mean the meeting is cancelled—check again closer to the date.
The live meeting page is the first place to confirm a date before traveling.
Check current Elizabeth BOE meetings →Use the right Board record
| Record | What it tells you | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting Dates | When and where the Board plans to meet. | Treating it as the agenda. |
| Agenda | Items scheduled for consideration. | Assuming an agenda item was approved. |
| Minutes | Formal record of a completed meeting. | Using a news recap instead of the formal record. |
| Public Notice | Special, changed or legally noticed meeting information. | Ignoring a newer rescheduling notice. |
| Board Presentations | Budget, district and presentation material. | Confusing presentation figures with later final action. |
Use the archive by school year and meeting date.
Open Elizabeth BOE agendas →Use the formal minutes archive.
Open Elizabeth BOE minutes →Elizabeth Board members, leadership and terms
| Board member | Current role | Listed term expiration |
|---|---|---|
| Maria Z. Carvalho | President | January 2027 |
| Stephanie Goncalves Pestana | Vice President | January 2028 |
| Diane Barbosa | Board Member | January 2029 |
| Charlene Bathelus | Board Member | January 2028 |
| Iliana Chevres | Board Member | January 2028 |
| Stephanie Clervoyant-Noel | Board Member | January 2029 |
| Jerry D. Jacobs | Board Member | January 2027 |
| Rosa E. Moreno-Ortega | Board Member | January 2027 |
| Isaias J. Rivera | Board Member | January 2029 |
The Board consists of nine members serving three-year terms. A member appointed to fill a vacancy can have a different partial-term arrangement under Board rules.
Recheck before contacting a named officer. Leadership positions can change after elections, vacancies and reorganization meetings even before a listed term expires.
Use the district member page for current profiles and contact information.
Verify current Elizabeth BOE members →Which committee matches the issue you are following?
| Committee | Current chair | Likely topic area |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Management | Stephanie Goncalves Pestana | Education and management matters. |
| Legal | Isaias J. Rivera | Legal and policy-related matters. |
| Finance and Accounting | Jerry D. Jacobs | Financial oversight. |
| School Properties | Iliana Chevres | Buildings and property. |
| Negotiations | Charlene Bathelus | Negotiation matters. |
| Food & Nutrition | Diane Barbosa | Meal and nutrition programs. |
| Special Education | Diane Barbosa | Special-education oversight. |
| School Safety & Transportation | Rosa Moreno-Ortega | Safety and transportation. |
Check the latest committee and outside-assignment list before relying on a saved name.
Open current BOE committees →The correct Elizabeth Public Schools building depends on your task
District / Mitchell Building
500 North Broad Street
General district administration.
908-436-5000
Regular Board meetings
Donald Stewart School No. 51
544 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Confirm every dated meeting first.
K–8 Welcome Center
507 Westminster Avenue
908-552-7500
High School Welcome Center
600 Pearl Street
908-436-5278
Special Services Registration
507 Westminster Avenue
908-436-5200
Transportation
625 Summer Street
908-436-6840
“Board of Education” does not always mean 500 North Broad Street. Registration, Transportation and regular Board meetings currently use different buildings.
Choose the correct Elizabeth registration lane first
Early Childhood Pre-K
Frances C. Smith Center, School No. 50
1000 South Elmora Avenue
908-436-5353
K–8
Children’s Welcome Center
507 Westminster Avenue
908-552-7500
Grades 9–12
High School Welcome Center
600 Pearl Street
908-436-5278
Special Services K–12
Children’s Welcome Center
507 Westminster Avenue
908-436-5200
Current K–8 and grades 9–12 appointment pages list appointments beginning July 6. Use the current registration page to book rather than an older Welcome Center link.
Standard K–12 document checklist
New to the United States: current K–12 registration instructions state that TB testing is required for students new to the U.S. Confirm health requirements with the Welcome Center before the appointment.
Standard five-point residency requirement
1 primary housing document
Current examples include deed, property-tax bill, lease/5-C form, mortgage or landlord affidavit.
4 supporting proofs
Examples include government ID, gas, electric, cable, water/sewer, insurance, paystub, benefit statement, cell-phone bill, credit-card bill or bank statement. Documents must show the applicable name and address.
Do not mix Standard Registration and Special Services document counts. Special Services currently publishes its own list, including the latest IEP plus housing documentation and at least two listed Elizabeth residency proofs.
The registration landing page contains the current Pre-K, K–8, high-school and Special Services appointment paths.
Open current Elizabeth student registration →Pre-K and kindergarten age rules
Pre-K
A child must live in Elizabeth with a parent/guardian and be age 3 or 4 on or before October 1.
Kindergarten
A child must live in Elizabeth with a parent/guardian and turn 5 on or before October 1.
The district offers free full-day preschool for eligible Elizabeth children and also describes extended-day or extended-year options at selected sites. Program availability should be checked for the current year.
How to find the school for an Elizabeth address
Do not use a real-estate listing or whichever school looks geographically closest. Elizabeth provides an official School Attendance Zone Locator.
Enter the full home address
Use the district’s address-based locator rather than only a ZIP code.
Read the neighborhood assignment
Use the result while preparing standard registration.
Separate neighborhood assignment from choice programs
Magnet schools, Pre-K placements and high-school academies can have separate processes.
Early Childhood
District Early Childhood Centers include Schools No. 50, 51 and 52.
Neighborhood
Multiple numbered neighborhood schools serve city attendance zones.
Magnet
The district separately identifies magnet schools and application-based options.
High-school academies
Elizabeth offers multiple career/program-focused high-school academies.
Confirm it directly from the district before registration or a move.
Open the Elizabeth school-zone locator →Elizabeth Transportation and My Ride K-12
District-owned buses
The Transportation department says district-owned buses have interior cameras and GPS systems.
My Ride K-12 right now
Parent-facing live tracking is disabled. The app currently displays bus-route information and push notifications from Transportation.
GPS hardware does not equal live parent tracking. Do not promise that families can currently watch a moving bus location in My Ride K-12.
Check Transportation and the My Ride status page before assuming live tracking is available.
Open Elizabeth Transportation →Check My Ride K-12 status →
Elizabeth PowerSchool: what parents can actually do
A single parent account can be linked to all children currently enrolled in Elizabeth Public Schools.
📊 Grades
Review current grades and grade history.
✅ Attendance
Review student attendance information.
📄 Reports
View available student reports and report cards.
📝 Forms
Complete applicable electronic forms.
📣 SchoolMessenger
Review district/school messages and communication settings.
🍎 MySchoolBucks
Access applicable meal-account/payment functions.
🏫 School details
View school contact information associated with the student.
👨👩👧👦 Multiple children
Add multiple enrolled students to one parent account.
New parent setup
Get the Access ID and Access Password
You need the student-specific linking information for each child. The school main office can assist.
Create the account on the web
The district says Parent Portal account creation must use the web version.
Add each student
Use Account Preferences and each child’s Access ID/Password.
Then use the mobile app
The current Elizabeth PowerSchool district code is KRPX.
The app does not provide every feature. EPS recommends the web version for complete functionality. If you forget credentials, use PowerSchool’s recovery link; the school cannot simply retrieve a lost password for you.
Protect the account: do not send usernames, passwords, report cards or student screenshots to an unofficial support website.
The district guide contains account creation, student linking, password recovery and mobile instructions.
Open Elizabeth PowerSchool help →Keep parent contact information current
EPS communication tools can deliver school notices, attendance information, closures and other announcements. PowerSchool and SchoolMessenger work best when the school has the correct parent phone number and email address.
Voice
Applicable automated messages can use the phone number on file.
Check that the Parent Portal account email remains active.
Text
Review communication preferences so important messages are not missed.
Child Study Team referral: the deadlines parents should know
The Child Study Team serves students ages 3 through 21 who may have a disability with an educational impact. Parents/legal guardians can make a written referral.
20 days
Initial Identification Meeting after the district receives a referral.
90 days
If evaluation is approved and parental consent is given, evaluations and eligibility meeting must occur within the applicable 90-day period.
30 days
If the student is found eligible, the district says an IEP is developed within 30 days.
1+ review yearly
An IEP must be reviewed at least annually, and a parent can request a meeting sooner.
Submit a written referral
A parent/legal guardian or school I&RS team can initiate the process. Parent referrals can be sent to Special Services.
Attend Initial Identification
The team determines whether an evaluation is warranted; referral does not mean automatic testing.
Provide consent if evaluation proceeds
Written parental/legal-guardian consent is needed before evaluation begins.
Review eligibility
The IEP team reviews evaluation results and determines whether special-education criteria are met.
Develop and monitor the IEP
If eligible, the IEP identifies goals, services, accommodations, placement and progress monitoring.
A medical diagnosis alone does not automatically create special-education eligibility. EPS explains that the condition must have an educational impact; some students may instead need accommodations through a Section 504 plan.
Read the CST referral process before assuming what the next step should be.
Open Elizabeth Special Services →Concern about a younger child’s development?
EPS Child Find resources tell families to contact the district when a young child may be experiencing developmental difficulty with areas such as movement, communication, learning, social interaction, vision or hearing.
For a child between ages 3 and 5, current district resources direct families to Special Services at 908-436-5200. Child Find information is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole.
Use the district resource rather than waiting for kindergarten if you already have developmental concerns.
Open EPS Child Find →Parents have the right to school information in a language they understand
Español
Spanish translated family resources.
Português
Portuguese translated family resources.
Kreyòl Ayisyen
Haitian Creole translated resources.
العربية
Arabic translated resources.
For another language, contact the school principal. EPS states that interpreters can be coordinated for parent-teacher conferences, meetings and other conversations about a student’s education; its contracted interpretation resource provides access to more than 118 languages with an appointment.
Use EPS language-access guidance rather than relying on a child or informal translator for an important school conversation.
Open EPS interpretation & translation services →HIB concerns should start with the correct school specialist
Each Elizabeth school has an Anti-Bullying Specialist, and the district also maintains an Anti-Bullying Coordinator.
Identify the student’s school
Use the current school-specific specialist list.
Use the district reporting process
Keep screenshots, names and student-specific details within the appropriate reporting route.
Use district coordination when needed
Peter G. Vosseler is currently listed as district Anti-Bullying Coordinator.
Protect the student: do not post confidential incident evidence publicly when a school/district reporting channel is available.
Use the current EPS list because staff assignments can change.
Find the school’s Anti-Bullying Specialist →McKinney-Vento can change normal residency-document rules
Families in temporary, doubled-up, motel, shelter or other unstable housing situations may qualify for protections different from standard registration requirements.
School access
Eligible students have protections intended to prevent housing instability from interrupting education.
School of origin
Continued enrollment at the school of origin may apply depending on circumstances and best-interest analysis.
Transportation
Transportation protections can be part of McKinney-Vento support.
Do not delay asking for help because ordinary residency papers are unavailable. Ask the district to determine whether McKinney-Vento protections apply.
Use the district’s eligibility screening and McKinney-Vento resources before abandoning or delaying enrollment.
Open Elizabeth McKinney-Vento assistance →Breakfast, lunch and meal assistance
Breakfast
The district’s current General Information page says breakfast is free to all students.
Pre-K–8 lunch
Current district-listed full-price reference: $3.00.
Grades 9–12 lunch
Current district-listed full-price reference: $3.60.
Meal prices can change. Treat these as current district-listed references, not permanent prices. Eligible families can apply for free or reduced-price meals online.
Meal-assistance eligibility should be reviewed for the current school year, particularly if household circumstances change.
Transcript request vs FERPA record access vs public records
| You need | Use this route | Important timing / privacy note |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript / verification | Student Services transcript form | District says allow 7–10 business days. |
| Inspect child’s education records | Written request to school / appropriate official under FERPA | District’s FERPA notice states a right to inspect/review within 45 days after the school receives the request. |
| Correct inaccurate student record | Written FERPA amendment request | Identify the record and why you believe it is inaccurate or misleading. |
| Qualifying Board/district public record | Request for Public Records / OPRA | Do not use OPRA as a substitute for a student’s private education-record process. |
Prepare this for a transcript request
Privacy: birth dates, transcripts, custody information, IEPs and student identifiers should only be submitted through the appropriate district process.
Use the Student Services form and plan around the district’s stated processing time.
Open Elizabeth transcript request →Assessment dates are not yet safely reusable for 2026–27
As of August 14, 2026, the district Research, Evaluation and Assessment page was still displaying its 2025–26 Assessment Letter to Parents and 2025–26 District Assessment Calendar.
Do not rename the old assessment calendar “2026–27.” Wait for the new district document or confirm testing windows through the school before making date-sensitive plans.
Check whether the district has rolled the page forward to 2026–27.
Check EPS assessment information →Families may receive literacy screening information during the year
Elizabeth says it uses an approved universal literacy screener to identify reading strengths and possible support needs. The district explains that the screener is not a graded test and does not appear on a student’s report card.
Not a grade
The screening is intended as an instructional diagnostic tool.
Family results
The district says families are notified of screening results within 30 days of each screening window.
Support planning
Results can help identify students who may benefit from targeted reading support.
24/7 Tutor.com access for EPS high-school students
Free
Provided to eligible EPS high-school students.
24/7
Online academic support is available around the clock.
Unlimited
The district describes unlimited Tutor.com access.
Multiple needs
Homework, writing, test prep, ESL, SAT and college-prep support.
This is a more actionable resource than waiting only for the next school day.
Open EPS Tutor.com resources →Budget and policy: use the current-year document
💰 2026–27 Budget
The Board budget page currently includes a 2026–27 User Friendly Budget, Advertised Budget and Budget Presentation.
📘 District policies
The policy library is organized into Community, Administration, Business, Personnel, Students, Instruction, Construction and Board-bylaw series.
Use final/current material when the number or rule matters. An earlier advertised budget, presentation or older policy copy may not be the document you need.
Elizabeth Public Schools jobs and substitute positions
District openings
Use the current EPS Human Resources employment route for active positions.
High-need areas
Current HR material highlights Special Education, Bilingual/ESL, Mathematics and Science teaching needs.
Substitutes
EPS currently uses ESS to manage hiring, training and placement for substitute teachers, aides, personal assistants and clerical personnel.
Do not publish a fixed vacancy count. Openings can change daily; the live district application system should control.
Use the correct district when your question is outside Elizabeth
New Jersey Board of Education
Use for statewide New Jersey education-board information rather than an Elizabeth district service.
Newark Board of Education
Use when the student or service belongs to Newark Public Schools.
Linden Board of Education
Use for Linden Public Schools rather than Elizabeth Public Schools.
Roselle Board of Education
Use for Roselle Public Schools and its own Board resources.
Common Elizabeth BOE problems and the fastest next step
“School starts September 8”
Fix: September 8 is a staff/faculty day; students are currently listed to begin September 10.
Assuming every Board meeting is Thursday
Fix: use the dated schedule; November 24 is currently a Tuesday.
Going to 500 North Broad for registration
Fix: choose the correct Pre-K, K–8, high-school or Special Services Welcome Center first.
High-school student sent to K–8 registration
Fix: standard grades 9–12 registration currently lists 600 Pearl Street.
Student with an IEP using standard registration
Fix: use Special Services Registration and bring the current IEP.
My Ride does not show a moving bus
Fix: live tracking is currently disabled.
PowerSchool app asks for district code
Fix: current EPS code is KRPX.
Cannot create PowerSchool account in app
Fix: create the account in the web Parent Portal first.
Real-estate site gives a school
Fix: verify the address through the EPS Attendance Zone Locator.
No normal residency paperwork
Fix: if housing is unstable, ask about McKinney-Vento protections.
Need a transcript immediately
Fix: district guidance says allow approximately 7–10 business days.
Want to inspect your child’s records
Fix: use the FERPA student-record access process rather than OPRA.
Assessment page still says 2025–26
Fix: do not relabel it; wait for the 2026–27 district assessment calendar.
Parent needs another language
Fix: request an interpreter or translated document through the school.
Elizabeth Board of Education FAQs
What is the Elizabeth Board of Education address and phone number?
Elizabeth Public Schools lists its district office at 500 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208. The main district phone number is 908-436-5000.
When do Elizabeth Public Schools students start in 2026?
The current district calendar lists September 10, 2026 as Schools Open for Students. September 8 is a staff/faculty day and September 9 is a professional-development day.
When is the next Elizabeth Board of Education meeting?
As of August 14, 2026, the next listed Agenda/Business Meeting is August 20, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 544 Pennsylvania Avenue. Recheck the official meeting page because meetings can be rescheduled.
Where are regular Elizabeth Board meetings held?
Regular meetings are commonly listed at Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center School No. 51, 544 Pennsylvania Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ. The specific dated notice should always control.
Where do I register a K–8 student in Elizabeth?
Current registration instructions direct standard K–8 registration to the Children’s Welcome Center at 507 Westminster Avenue. The listed phone is 908-552-7500.
Where do I register a grades 9–12 student?
Current standard high-school registration lists the High School Welcome Center at 600 Pearl Street. The listed phone is 908-436-5278. Students using Special Services registration have a separate route.
Does Elizabeth My Ride K-12 show live bus tracking?
No. EPS currently states that tracking capabilities are disabled in My Ride K-12. The app currently displays bus-route information and push notifications from the Transportation Office.
What is the Elizabeth PowerSchool district code?
The current PowerSchool mobile-app district code is KRPX. EPS says Parent Portal accounts must first be created in the web version.
How long does an Elizabeth transcript request take?
The district transcript-request page currently asks users to allow approximately 7–10 business days for processing.
What happens after a parent refers a child to the Child Study Team?
EPS says an Initial Identification Meeting is held within 20 days of receiving a referral. If an evaluation is warranted and parental consent is provided, evaluations and the eligibility meeting must be completed within the applicable 90-day period. If the student is eligible, an IEP is developed within 30 days.
Final verification checklist
Date-sensitive?
Recheck the live calendar or meeting notice immediately before acting.
Going in person?
Confirm the correct district office, meeting room, Welcome Center or Transportation building.
Sharing student information?
Use EPS-linked registration, PowerSchool, Special Services, HIB and record-request systems.
Source review: this guide was refreshed August 14, 2026 using current Elizabeth Public Schools Board, Board Members, Meeting Dates, Agendas, Minutes, Committees, Calendar, Registration & Welcome Centers, General Information, School Attendance Zone, Transportation, My Ride K-12, PowerSchool, Special Services, Child Find, Interpretation & Translation, HIB, McKinney-Vento, Transcript, Research & Assessment, Tutor.com, Budget, Policies and Human Resources resources.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an independent informational guide and is not Elizabeth Public Schools or the Elizabeth Board of Education. Official district notices, policies, forms and student-specific instructions take priority.