Paterson School Dates, BOE Meetings, Registration & Parent Help for 2026–27
Paterson Board of Education searches usually lead to several different tasks: checking a Board meeting, finding a 2026–27 school date, registering or re-registering a child, accessing Infinite Campus, locating a school, requesting records or solving a transportation issue.
This independent guide organizes those tasks around current Paterson Public Schools information, including the nine-member Board, 2026–27 meeting calendar, Middle School Cohort Phase 3 changes, registration requirements, new student-device rules, attendance guidance and official action routes.
Paterson Board of Education quick facts
The Paterson Board of Education governs Paterson Public Schools. Local control was fully restored to the Board in January 2021 after nearly three decades of state control.
District
Paterson Public Schools, New Jersey.
Main office
90 Delaware Ave., Paterson, NJ 07503.
Main phone
Board size
Nine commissioners.
President
Joel D. Ramirez.
Vice President
Della Wilder, formerly McCall.
Superintendent
Laurie W. Newell, PhD.
District scale
Almost 22,000 students across 41 schools.
Correct entity: this page covers Paterson Public Schools in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. It is not Paterson municipal government, a charter-school Board or Patterson Joint Unified School District in California.
After reviewing the quick facts here, use the district Board page to verify leadership, policies and the live Board roster before formal correspondence.
Verify the current Paterson Board of Education →Paterson Board of Education members
As checked on August 14, 2026, the official district page lists the following nine commissioners.
Joel D. Ramirez
President
Della Wilder
Vice President • formerly McCall
Valerie Freeman
Commissioner
Alex Mendez, Jr.
Commissioner
Hector L. Nieves, Jr.
Commissioner
Mohammed H. Rashid
Commissioner
Kenneth Rosado
Commissioner
Kenneth L. Simmons
Commissioner
Corey L. Teague
Commissioner
Why the old article needed correction: Board membership and officer names can change after elections, vacancies and organization meetings. Do not copy names from an older article or meeting packet when current titles matter.
Board issue or school issue? Start with the right place
| Your question | Best first route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Board policy or public governance | Board / Policies | This is Board-level business. |
| Upcoming agenda or Board action | BOE Meetings | Use agenda, packet, notice and later minutes. |
| Teacher or classroom concern | Teacher / school | The school has student-specific context. |
| Attendance or dismissal | School main office | This is a campus-level operational issue. |
| New student registration | Central Registration | School placement depends on official address and registration records. |
| IEP or evaluation | School / Special Education | Special-education procedures and privacy rules apply. |
| Bus or route problem | School / Transportation | Transportation is student and route specific. |
Paterson Board of Education meeting dates
The current 2026–27 district calendar publishes workshop and regular Board dates. Special meetings, retreats, public hearings and changed notices can be added separately.
| Month | Workshop | Regular / Organization |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | August 12 | August 19 |
| September | September 9 | September 16 |
| October | October 14 | October 21 |
| November | November 10 | November 18 |
| December | December 9 | December 16 |
| January 2027 | — | January 6 • Organization Meeting |
| February | February 10 | February 17 |
| March | March 9 | March 17 |
| April | April 14 | April 21 |
| May | May 12 | May 19 |
| June | June 9 | June 16 |
Do not treat this annual table as the final legal notice. The district separately posts workshop, regular, special, retreat and public-hearing notices. Always check the current notice for time, location, remote access and changes.
How to research a Board item properly
Open the current notice
Confirm the meeting type, date, location, format and any participation instructions.
Read the agenda
Use the agenda to see what is scheduled for discussion or formal action.
Open the Board packet
Packets can provide deeper supporting documents than the short agenda title.
Check minutes afterward
Use posted minutes when you need the formal meeting record rather than a social-media recap.
The official meeting hub combines the livestream, agendas, Board packets, minutes, public notices and annual schedule.
Open Paterson Board of Education Meetings →How public comment works at Paterson BOE meetings
In-person meeting
People wishing to participate in public comment must attend in person and register upon arrival.
Remote meeting
The published remote procedure requires registration no later than one hour before the meeting starts.
Public-comment privacy: do not disclose student medical information, disability records, custody details, grades, disciplinary records, passwords, student IDs or private documents during a public comment when the school or correct department can handle the issue confidentially.
Paterson Public Schools calendar: dates that affect families
Opening day
September 8, 2026
Instructional days
180 student days
Staff days
185
Delayed opening
School begins at 9:45 a.m.
Important 2026–27 dates
| Date | Family impact |
|---|---|
| Sept. 1–3 | Full-day staff professional development; no students. |
| Sept. 4 | Half-day staff PD; no students. |
| Sept. 7 | Labor Day; district closed. |
| Sept. 8 | Opening day for students. |
| Sept. 15 | Back-to-School Night for Grades 9–12, 6–8 p.m. |
| Sept. 17 | Back-to-School Night for PreK–8, 6–8 p.m. |
| Nov. 13 | First marking period ends. |
| Nov. 26–27 | Thanksgiving; district closed. |
| Dec. 24–Jan. 1 | Winter recess / New Year’s closure period. |
| Jan. 29 | Second marking period ends. |
| Feb. 15–16 | Winter break; district closed. |
| Mar. 10 | Eid al-Fitr observed; district closed. |
| Mar. 26–Apr. 2 | Good Friday plus spring-break closure period. |
| Apr. 9 | Third marking period ends. |
| May 31 | Memorial Day; district closed. |
| June 11 | Fourth marking period ends. |
| June 18 | Juneteenth observed; district closed. |
Emergency make-up days
Make-Up #1
June 24, 2027
Make-Up #2
June 25, 2027
Make-Up #3
June 28, 2027
Make-Up #4
June 29, 2027
Important official-PDF conflict: the June calendar body marks June 23, 2027 as “Last Day for Students” and June 24 as “Last Day for Staff.” However, a footnote on the same official PDF says that with no emergency/weather closures, the last student day will be June 21 and staff day June 22. Because the district’s own PDF conflicts, this article does not guess which statement is intended. Verify the latest calendar revision before planning around the final week.
Weather rule: the calendar states that a delayed opening begins school at 9:45 a.m. Early dismissals are generally listed at 1:00 p.m. for students where the calendar identifies that schedule.
Recheck the live calendar near the date because weather closures and revised district files can change student attendance days.
Check Paterson’s current district calendar →Open the current 2026–27 calendar PDF →
Middle School Cohort Phase 3: schools changing for 2026–27
Paterson Public Schools is continuing its Middle School Cohort model during 2026–27. This is a major family intent because affected students may need re-registration and a different neighborhood-school placement.
| School | 2026–27 configuration / change |
|---|---|
| School No. 10 | Transitions from K–8 to K–5. |
| School No. 18 | Transitions from K–8 to K–5. |
| School No. 21 | Transitions from K–8 to a Grades 6–8 middle school. |
| School No. 26 | Transitions from K–8 to PreK–5 and incorporates School No. 1. |
| Edward W. Kilpatrick School | Transitions from PreK–3 to PreK–5. |
Choice-school transition
The district announced that Alexander Hamilton Academy, Renaissance School 1, Norman S. Weir and Young Men’s Leadership Academy would be phased out by June 30, 2026 and repurposed according to district needs.
Check whether your child is affected
Review the Phase 3 school list and current Parent registration/re-registration notices.
Do not assume the old school assignment continues
The district says affected students will be placed in appropriate neighborhood schools.
Complete required re-registration
The district says students affected by Phase 3 reconfigurations must re-register for the 2026–27 school year.
Use individualized district support if placement is unclear
Do not rely on a prior-year neighborhood assignment or a third-party school map.
The Long-Range Facilities Plan page contains the live Phase 3 configuration information, community-forum material and district transition resources.
Check the Paterson Middle School Cohort plan →Which Paterson school registration process do you need?
| Your situation | How it starts | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| New / returning PPS student | Call 973-321-2501 for an appointment. | All children must be present at the appointment. |
| Kindergarten after PPS PreK | Complete online registration first. | Central Registration then schedules a nurse appointment. |
| Charter-school student | Online Central Registration. | The child must already be accepted by the charter school. |
| PCTVS student | Online Central Registration. | The child must already be accepted to PCTVS. |
| Phase 3 affected student | Follow the current re-registration notice. | Do not use only the ordinary new-student route. |
General new-student document checklist
Homeschool assignment: the district says students are enrolled to the homeschool serving their Paterson address. Do not assume the closest building or a previous sibling’s school is automatically the assigned school.
Kindergarten, charter and PCTVS online-document detail
Kindergarten
Online instructions list two proofs of address no more than 30 days old, birth certificate and parent/guardian ID. At the nurse appointment, bring immunization record, district-approved physical exam form and health history form.
Charter registration
The child must already have charter acceptance. Upload two recent proofs of address, birth certificate, parent ID and acceptance letter, then await confirmation.
PCTVS registration
The child must already be accepted to PCTVS. The online process likewise asks for recent address proofs, birth certificate, parent ID and acceptance documentation.
Current Central Registration hours conflict: the official Welcome page lists Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with summer hours July 1 through the third week of August of 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. The official Registration Requirements page separately lists Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Because both are current district pages, call 973-321-2501 before visiting.
Central Registration is the official hub for new students, kindergarten, charter, PCTVS, transfers, homeschooling and registration forms.
Open Paterson Central Registration →Review current registration documents →
Paterson student transfer and address-change workflow
Moving to another Paterson address
Go to the child’s current school and provide proof of the new address. The school updates the address in Infinite Campus and completes the transfer process when the school assignment changes.
Leaving Paterson Public Schools
Go to the school secretary, provide the new school and home address, return books and satisfy obligations. The school can then issue the transfer materials.
Use the district’s transfer instructions before trying to enroll independently at another Paterson campus.
Open the Paterson transfer process →Infinite Campus: what parents can see and how to recover access
The 2026–27 handbook identifies Infinite Campus as Paterson’s web-based student information system. Campus Parent and Campus Student provide real-time access to important student information.
Grades
Review student academic information.
Attendance
Check attendance information and patterns.
Schedules
View student schedule information.
Progress
Report cards and progress reports can be accessed through the portal.
If you cannot log in
Start from the district Parents page
Use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal link supplied by Paterson Public Schools.
New portal user?
Use “New User?” and the supplied activation information to create the account.
Forgot credentials?
Use the “Forgot Password?” or “Forgot Username” recovery route.
Recovery still fails?
Contact the child’s school main office. The handbook says the school verifies identity before providing access assistance.
Contact-information check: keep your phone/email information current with the school secretary. Incorrect contact information can interfere with access and district communication.
Use the district Parents page so you reach Paterson’s current Infinite Campus route rather than another district’s login.
Open Paterson parent resources and Infinite Campus →Four Paterson school rules families should know this year
1. “Bell to Bell” personal internet-enabled device policy
The 2026–27 handbook says K–12 students are prohibited from using personal internet-enabled devices throughout the entire school day, including lunch, transitions, study halls and other non-instructional periods.
Device-policy exceptions described by the handbook
IEP
When device use is required by an Individualized Education Program.
504 Plan
When required to implement a Section 504 accommodation.
Health plan
When documented medical needs require device use.
Translation
When needed to facilitate translation services.
2. AI is a learning aid, not a replacement for student work
The handbook encourages responsible AI use for brainstorming, practice, research and feedback. Students should verify AI-generated information, protect private information and follow teacher directions about whether AI may be used for an assignment.
3. Chronic absence means missing 10% or more of the year
For K–12, the handbook defines chronic absence as missing 10% or more of the school year regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused. In a 180-day year, that is about 18 days.
4. FERPA protects student education records
Parents and eligible students have rights to inspect education records and request correction of records they believe are inaccurate or misleading. FERPA rights generally transfer to the student at age 18 or upon attendance at a postsecondary institution.
Attendance micro-rules worth knowing
The district handbook contains the fuller rules, policy references, attendance tables, technology agreements and family responsibilities.
Open the 2026–27 Paterson student/parent handbook →School directory vs homeschool assignment
The district operates 41 schools, but the school directory and official assignment process solve different problems.
Need a school phone?
Use the district school directory for current campus addresses, grade configurations and contact numbers.
Need your assigned school?
Use Central Registration. New students are enrolled to the homeschool serving their verified Paterson address.
Phase 3 family?
Do not rely on last year’s assignment. Check 2026–27 re-registration and Middle School Cohort information.
The district’s Schools Homepage provides the live directory instead of freezing 41 contact records into an article that can become stale.
Open the complete Paterson school directory →High School Choice is not the same as ordinary registration
Incoming ninth-grade and newly enrolling students may use Paterson’s High School Choice process to apply to different academic and career pathways. It is separate from simply proving residency and receiving a homeschool assignment.
Required selection
The district’s choice model requires a primary selection between Eastside High School and John F. Kennedy High School.
Optional programs
Students may also apply to limited-capacity academy/pathway options such as P-TECH, STEAM, International or Rosa Parks offerings when available.
Students with disabilities
The district says Child Study Team staff work with families to consider suitable programs and individual needs.
Deadline warning: the live High School Choice page still displays a 2025–26 timeline. Do not reuse those dates for a future choice cycle. Wait for the current application window or verify directly with the district.
Use the live Choice page for the active application, presentations and current timeline.
Open Paterson High School Choice →Paterson school bus contact and delayed-opening rules
Parent resources
The Transportation page provides parent manuals and school-bus safety information.
B7T forms
The district provides B7T payment-request resources for applicable choice, private, charter and renaissance-school situations.
NJ Transit
The Transportation page includes a district route to NJ Transit ticket information.
Same-day student problem: if a child is missing a bus, at the wrong stop or affected by dismissal changes, contact the student’s school as well as Transportation. Static web pages cannot show a student’s live route.
Use the district Transportation page for parent resources, delayed-opening guidance and current department contacts.
Open Paterson Transportation →Transcript, education verification or OPRA?
| What you need | Correct process | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript | Transcript Request Form | Districtwide page lists 5–7 business days processing. |
| Education verification | Written verification request | Must include the individual’s signed release. |
| Duplicate diploma | Not available | The district says high-school diplomas cannot be duplicated. |
| Public district record | OPRA | Use the Open Public Records Act request process. |
| Private student education record | Student-record/school route | Do not treat private education records as ordinary public records. |
Protect identity documents: do not upload IDs, releases, transcripts, birth records or private student records to an unofficial records service before confirming the official destination.
The district’s official page provides the form and school/program-specific contacts.
Open Transcript Request & Education Verification →Open Paterson OPRA Requests →
Special Education, Child Find and bullying help
Special Education
The district Special Education Department can provide information on referrals, evaluations and services.
Phone: 973-321-2216
Project Child Find
A free referral and awareness service for unserved or underserved youth from birth through age 21 who may have developmental delays or disabilities.
Phone: 1-800-322-8174
HIB / bullying
The district provides family reporting forms, HIB resources and a school Anti-Bullying Specialist directory.
Coordinator: Monique McKay
973-321-2238
Use Project Child Find or Special Education rather than waiting for a Board meeting.
Open Paterson Project Child Find →The district HIB page provides reporting routes and parent resources in multiple languages.
Open Paterson HIB resources →Common Paterson school problems and the best next step
📅 Two “last days” appear in the official PDF
Fix: do not guess. The PDF contains conflicting June 21/23 student dates, so verify the latest revision before making plans.
🗓️ You know the annual BOE date but not the location
Fix: open the current meeting notice. Special or changed meetings can use different instructions.
🎙️ You want to speak remotely
Fix: check that the meeting itself is remote, then follow the published one-hour advance registration procedure.
🏫 You do not know the assigned school
Fix: use Central Registration rather than choosing the closest school on a map.
🔄 Your child’s school changed under Phase 3
Fix: check the district re-registration notice and neighborhood placement instead of using the previous school assignment.
🕐 Registration office hours disagree online
Fix: call 973-321-2501 before visiting because two current official pages publish different hours.
🔐 Infinite Campus password does not work
Fix: use the built-in recovery options, then contact the child’s school main office if access still fails.
📱 Your child says phones are prohibited
Fix: review the Bell-to-Bell rule and contact the school if an IEP, 504, health-plan or translation exception may apply.
🎓 You need a duplicate diploma
Fix: the district says diplomas cannot be duplicated. Request the appropriate transcript or verification instead.
🚌 School has a delayed opening
Fix: buses arrive 90 minutes after normal time; the current calendar lists a 9:45 a.m. school opening.
📁 You want to correct a student record
Fix: FERPA provides a process to request correction of records believed to be inaccurate or misleading; do not use ordinary OPRA for private student records.
🤖 Student wants to use AI for an assignment
Fix: follow teacher instructions, verify AI-generated information and do not enter personal or confidential information into AI tools.
Paterson Board of Education FAQs
What is the official Paterson Board of Education website?
The Paterson Board of Education is part of Paterson Public Schools. The district website is paterson.k12.nj.us, and its Board section provides current commissioners, meeting resources, policies and regulations.
What is the Paterson Board of Education phone number and address?
Paterson Public Schools lists its main office at 90 Delaware Ave., Paterson, NJ 07503. The main district phone number is 973-321-1000.
Who are the current Paterson Board President and Vice President?
As checked August 14, 2026, the district lists Joel D. Ramirez as President and Della Wilder, formerly McCall, as Vice President. Board leadership should be rechecked after elections or organization meetings.
Where are Paterson BOE meeting dates, agendas and minutes?
The district Board Meetings page provides the annual schedule, livestream, agendas, Board packets, minutes and public notices. The current 2026–27 calendar lists workshop and regular meeting dates from August 2026 through June 2027.
Can I speak at a Paterson Board of Education meeting?
Yes. For in-person meetings, public-comment participants attend and register upon arrival. For remote meetings, the district’s published procedure requires advance registration no later than one hour before the meeting and asks for the participant’s name, address and calling phone number.
When is the first day of Paterson Public Schools in 2026–27?
The current 2026–27 calendar lists September 8, 2026 as the opening day for students.
What is the last day of Paterson Public Schools in 2026–27?
The official PDF currently contains conflicting information. Its June calendar body labels June 23, 2027 as the last student day, but a footnote says June 21 if there are no emergency or weather closures. Families should verify the latest district calendar rather than assuming either date is a typo.
Do students affected by Paterson Middle School Cohort Phase 3 need to re-register?
The district says students affected by Phase 3 reconfigurations are required to re-register for the 2026–27 school year so they can be placed in the appropriate neighborhood schools.
What documents do I need to register a new student in Paterson?
The general registration page lists a transfer card, immunization record, last report card or current grades, transcripts, two proofs of Paterson residence, custody records if applicable, IEP or Child Study Team records if applicable, 504 information if applicable, birth certificate and registration form. New students also need the applicable physical-exam requirements.
What is Paterson’s Bell-to-Bell phone policy for 2026–27?
The 2026–27 handbook says K–12 students may not use personal internet-enabled devices throughout the school day, including lunch, transitions and study halls. The handbook identifies exceptions for applicable IEP, 504, documented health-plan and translation needs.
Final Paterson school verification checklist
Correct district?
Confirm Paterson Public Schools in Paterson, New Jersey.
Current date or notice?
Recheck Board notices, calendar revisions, registration hours and school-placement updates.
Correct submission route?
Verify the district-linked portal before uploading student records, identification or login credentials.
Verification scope: this version was audited on August 14, 2026 against Paterson Public Schools’ Board roster, Board Meetings and Notices pages, current 2026–27 calendar PDF, Central Registration pages, new-student and transfer procedures, Parents page, Middle School Cohort Phase 3 information, 2026–27 Student/Parent Handbook, Infinite Campus guidance, Transportation, transcript/education verification, OPRA, High School Choice, Project Child Find and HIB resources.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an informational guide and is not Paterson Public Schools, the Paterson Board of Education, the New Jersey Department of Education or another government agency. Current official notices, policies, assignments, calendar revisions and student-specific district decisions take priority.