Prahova County School Inspectorate*

In order to stimulate school attendance, in 2002 the School Supplies Program was launched, which addresses students in state education, primary and secondary school, day courses. At the beginning of each school year, packages with school supplies specific to each grade are distributed.

The composition of the school supplies packages granted to students is established based on the Methodology for the application of the provisions of Law no. 126/2002 for approving Government Emergency Ordinance no. 33/2001 regarding the granting of school supplies.

Financing application submitted by the Ministry of National Education at the beginning of September 2017, through the Operational Program Assistance for Disadvantaged Persons (POAD) 2014-2020, was approved. The decision allows, starting with this school year, the purchase of supplies for preschoolers, and the supplementation with backpacks for the packages of supplies granted to students in primary and secondary education.

1. Enrollment in Pre-university Education

1.1. Admission Conditions

1.1.1. Students from non-EU states may enroll in pre-university education in Romania if one of the parents, guardians, or legal supporters meets one of the following situations:

is a repatriate;
has, through marriage, domicile in Romania;
is the holder of a residence permit in Romania;
carries out, in accordance with legal provisions, activities on the territory of Romania;
is studying at an accredited public/private university or postgraduate institution in Romania.

1.2. Application File

1.2.1. The student’s file is sent to the Ministry of National Education (MEN) – General Directorate for International Relations and European Affairs (DGRIAE), by the County School Inspectorate/ISMB in whose jurisdiction the chosen school operates and contains the following documents:

Copies of the student’s and parents’/guardian’s/legal supporter’s identity documents (student’s birth certificate, student’s passport, parents’ passport, student’s residence permit, parents’ residence permit, if applicable);
Copy and certified translation of the student’s birth certificate;
Copy of the court decision regarding the custody of the minor child, if applicable;
Copies and certified translations of school records;
Application for enrollment, endorsed by the head of the educational institution where enrollment will take place.

1.3. Enrollment in Studies

1.3.1. Enrollment is done through the approval issued by MEN – DGRIAE, based on the study documents in the personal file, without difference exams.

1.3.2. Enrollment of students from non-EU states, based on study periods completed abroad, proven by school records, can also be carried out during the school year, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation for the organization and functioning of pre-university educational institutions, approved by the Order of the Minister of National Education no. 5115/2014

1.3.3. At the request of the parents/guardian, the student may also be enrolled in a class lower than the study level resulting from documents.

1.4. Tuition Fees

1.4.1. In compulsory education, foreign students benefit from schooling under the same conditions as Romanian citizens.

1.4.2. In upper secondary high school education, students from non-EU states pay tuition fees, in accordance with the provisions of Law no. 1/2011.

1.4.3. In pre-university education at all levels, foreign citizens who have obtained a form of protection in Romania may be schooled under the same conditions as Romanian citizens. The class in which students from this category who do not have study documents may be enrolled will be established following an evaluation carried out by the educational unit nominated by the County School Inspectorate/ISMB.

2. Taking the Baccalaureate Exam by Citizens from non-EU States Who Have Completed High School Studies in Another Education System and Do Not Hold a Baccalaureate Diploma or Its Equivalent

2.1. Citizens from non-EU states who have completed high school studies in another education system and do not hold a baccalaureate diploma or its equivalent may, upon request, take the national baccalaureate exam, according to the profile of the completed pre-university studies, in an examination center established by the County/ Bucharest Municipality Baccalaureate Committee.

2.2. The taking of the national baccalaureate exam by citizens from non-EU states who have completed high school studies in another education system and do not hold a baccalaureate diploma or its equivalent is conditional upon payment of tuition fees, according to the provisions of Law no. 1/2011.

The "Second Chance" program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming from diverse social backgrounds and with varied ages, who have not attended or have not completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility to continue and complete compulsory education without having to interrupt any professional or family activities they are engaged in.

The program is structured on two levels: Second Chance – primary education and Second Chance – lower secondary education – the latter also including a professional training component.

There is no upper age limit for those who wish to enroll in this program. The condition is that they have exceeded by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the class and who find themselves in the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

• they have not participated at all in formal – school education;
• they were enrolled but abandoned primary education – regardless of the moment and reasons for abandonment;
• they have not graduated, by the age of 14, from primary education.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

• they have graduated from compulsory primary education (including in the Second Chance system) but have not continued their education further

or:

• they have completed part of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but abandoned school during this educational cycle – regardless of the moment and reasons for abandonment.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate trainees and to lead them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support to all involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for both trainees and teaching staff. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and a credit system for basic education, the evaluation, certification and recognition of the competences previously acquired by students, ensuring an individualized preparation program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can be done, every year, in two sessions: October and February.

Pupils enrolled in the program can have very different levels and expectations. The new program ensures a transparent offer of modules that students can attend to develop skills, as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and with tasks and topics that meet their interests and needs.

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students in each class). Courses can take place after several schedule variants (during the week in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and the teachers. Hours are planned for individual consultations available to the students.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling duration (2 years for primary education, respectively 4 years for lower secondary education) can be reduced for each student individually, depending on the proven competences, both in the field of basic education and professional training.

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to the law, as follows:

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - primary education can continue their studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - lower secondary education can continue their studies in upper secondary education (upper cycle of high school) or can undertake practical training stages, after which they have the possibility to obtain a Level 3 professional qualification certificate.

For young people in the program, the graduation certificate will not only represent a personal success, but the chance for another tomorrow.

The admission of 8th grade graduates to state high school education for the 2018-2019 school year takes place according to the regulatory framework approved by the Ministry of Education.

The admission of 8th grade graduates to state high school education for the 2018-2019 school year takes place in accordance with the methodology for organizing and conducting the admission to state high school education for the 2011-2012 school year, approved by the Order of the Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports no. 4,802/2010 regarding the organization and conduct of admission to state high school education for the 2011-2012 school year.

The aptitude tests organized for admission in the 2018-2019 school year to vocational high schools are conducted according to the methodology for organizing and conducting and the structure of aptitude tests for admission to vocational high schools, provided in annex no. 3 to the order of the Minister of National Education no. 4,432/2014, with subsequent amendments.

Candidates who pass, during lower secondary education, internationally recognized exams for certifying linguistic competences in foreign languages may request the recognition and equivalence of the results obtained in these exams with the test for verifying knowledge of a modern language for admission to 9th grade classes with bilingual teaching programs of a modern language of international circulation.

The National Baccalaureate Exam 2018 is conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Methodology for organizing and conducting the Baccalaureate exam - 2011 (approved by the order of the Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports no. 4.799/2010 regarding the organization and conduct of the Baccalaureate exam - 2011, with subsequent amendments), and with the attached ministerial order.

The dedicated portal http://bacalaureat.edu.ro provides updated information regarding the methodology, calendar, and results of the Baccalaureate exam.

I. PRE-UNIVERSITY EDUCATION:

The methodology for the schooling of Romanians everywhere in the public pre-university education system in Romania for tuition-free places, but with a scholarship, respectively tuition-free, but without scholarship, starting with the 2017-2018 school year

1. Registration form pre-university edu 2018-2019

2. Pre-university education seat offer 2018-2019

Both the registration form and the offer of places in pre-university education will also be published on the School Inspectorate website.

II. HIGHER EDUCATION:

1. In the academic year 2018 - 2019, state higher education institutions in Romania organize the admission competition for Romanians everywhere, including citizens of the Republic of Moldova, for undergraduate/master/doctoral studies, based on university autonomy, similar to the previous year, according to the provisions in the methodology for schooling in higher education;

2. Candidates will be able to choose any field of study and any public higher education institution in Romania or, in the case of candidates from the Republic of Moldova, within the branches opened by Romanian universities in Chișinău, Cahul and Bălți;

3. For the safety of meeting the submission deadline set by the higher education institutions, we recommend sending exclusively the application files to the universities in order not to generate delays in their reception/processing, in case they are sent through other channels;

4. Enrollment in public and private accredited higher education in Romania, on places with fees in lei, is done on the basis of the provisions of MEN order no. 4294/29.06.2017;

5. Additional information regarding admission to universities in Romania can be obtained by accessing the links of each higher education institution in the information document attached to this procedure.

Higher education is organized in universities, academies of study, institutes, schools of higher studies, hereinafter referred to as higher education institutions or universities, which have obtained provisional operating authorization or accreditation.

Higher education institutions are education providers that carry out teaching activities based on study programs authorized to operate provisionally/accredited under the law, initial and continuous training at the university level, programs that operate on the principle of quality and the correlation of the educational offer with the labor market.

The national higher education system includes all accredited higher education institutions. A higher education institution authorized to operate provisionally, according to the legal procedures in force, becomes part of the national higher education system only after accreditation. For more information, you can also visit the website of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education - www.aracis.ro.

Higher education institutions can be public, private or denominational. These institutions have legal personality, are non-profit and apolitical. Higher education institutions are legal entities of public law or, as the case may be, legal entities of private law and of public utility.

University autonomy is guaranteed by the Constitution. Academic freedom is guaranteed by law. Public accountability is also regulated for any higher education institution, public or private.

By an annual government decision, the following are validated:

• Nomenclature of fields and specializations/university study programs per union
• the structure of accredited public and private higher education institutions or authorized to operate provisionally, with:
  • fields of undergraduate university studies and specializations/accredited study programs or authorized to operate provisionally,
  • geographical locations,
  • the number of transferable study credits for each university study program,
  • form of education and language of instruction,
  • maximum number of students who can be enrolled

The mission of higher education is to generate and transfer knowledge to society both through initial and continuing training at university level, for personal development, the individual's professional insertion and the satisfaction of the competency needs of the socioeconomic environment, as well as through scientific research, development, innovation and technology transfer, through individual and collective creation, in the fields of science, engineering sciences, arts, letters, by ensuring performance and physical and sports development, as well as the valorization and dissemination of their results. All these are accomplished in compliance with the following principles:

a) the principle of university autonomy;

b) the principle of academic freedom;

c) the principle of public accountability;

d) the principle of quality assurance;

e) the principle of equity;

f) the principle of managerial and financial efficiency;

g) the principle of transparency;

h) the principle of respecting the rights and freedoms of students and academic staff;

i) the principle of independence from ideologies, religions and political doctrines;

j) the principle of national and international mobility freedom of students, teachers and researchers;

k) the principle of consultation of social partners in decision-making;

l) the principle of student-centered education.

Structure of the academic year (according to Law no. 1/2011 – art. 136)

• The academic year usually starts on the first working day of October, includes two semesters and ends on September 30 of the following calendar year.
• A semester usually lasts 14 weeks of teaching activities followed, as a rule, by a minimum of 3 weeks of exams.
• The structure of the academic year is approved by the university senate.
• When granting transferable study credits for a semester, a period of at least 17 weeks is considered.
• The university senate of each higher education institution approves annually, at least 3 months before the beginning of the academic year, the regulations on students’ professional activity, as well as the calendar of educational activities specific to the academic semesters of study.

In the event of an error made by the issuing educational institution when completing the original diploma or in the case of presenting the original diploma that is so damaged it can no longer serve its intended purpose, based on a written request from the applicant, the educational institution that issued the document will issue a duplicate, prepared on the basis of documents found in the school's archive that reflect the applicant's academic record.

In the event of loss, destruction or theft of the original diploma, the request for the issuance of a duplicate must be accompanied by the following documents, which will be archived for 100 years at the county school inspectorate, while the certified true copies will be kept at the educational institution:

a) notarial/consular statement, given by the holder of the document, containing all elements necessary for identification, the circumstances in which the original was lost, as well as other details confirming the disappearance of the respective diploma. The following mention must be included: "the original diploma was not pledged or used as collateral at any state or private institution, in the country or abroad, and has not been knowingly transferred to any other individual or legal entity";

b) proof of publication of the loss, destruction or theft of the diploma in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part III;

c) notarized copy of the birth/marriage certificate;

d) two color photographs, size 3 x 4 cm;

e) written approval of the board of directors of the county school inspectorate for the issuance of the duplicate, following the submission of documents by the educational institution.

For more details, please consult:

ORDER No. 3844/2016 of May 24, 2016 for the approval of the Regulation regarding the regime of diplomas and school documents managed by pre-university educational institutions

The "Professional Scholarship" is a national social program addressed to all students attending vocational education and consists of monthly financial support.

The "Professional Scholarship" is also available to children of foreigners who are beneficiaries of a form of protection in Romania or to foreigners, respectively citizens of the European Union/European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation with the right to reside in Romania, who attend vocational education.

Students in vocational education cannot simultaneously benefit from the "Professional Scholarship" and the financial support granted to students within the national social protection program "Bani de liceu".

At the level of the Ministry of Education, a national commission is established to monitor the granting of the "Professional Scholarship".

Special and integrated special education is an integral part of the Romanian national education system and offers all children/students/young people educational programs adapted to the degree of disability and their development needs.

It is organized at all levels of pre-university education, depending on the type and degree of disability, as follows: mental, hearing, vision, locomotor, associated.

Inclusive education was adopted in Romania since the '90s by respecting diversity, initiating and practically implementing access and participation in education and social life for all categories of children. Today, approximately half of students with disabilities are educated in mainstream education.

The legislation in the field of special education was designed to respond to a wide and very varied range of special situations. Taking this reality into account, special, integrated special, and inclusive education was organized at all levels of pre-university education, according to the type and degree of disability.

Special education units for students with sensory deficiencies apply the curriculum of mainstream schools. These units retain only the structure and form of organization according to the special education system, while in content, school preparation and specialization they are similar to mainstream schools. Special technological high schools, high school classes, and special post-secondary classes are organized according to the mainstream school model (content, profiles, specializations, outcomes, objectives and/or competences). Specific to these units remain the strategies, modalities, and teaching/learning methods.

Upon graduation, students from these special education units take national exams (tests, baccalaureate, or graduation exam) just like all graduates from mainstream education. For them, facilities and adaptations are stipulated in the methodologies for organizing and conducting the exams.

For each student with severe, profound, or associated disabilities, a personalized intervention plan is developed with objectives specific to their psycho-individual development needs and possibilities.

Students with special educational needs benefit from adaptations of examination procedures also in the case of regular assessments.

This methodology includes rules for the organization and conduct of the qualification certification exam for graduates of high school education, technological branch, hereinafter referred to as the certification exam, for obtaining the qualification certificate, in accordance with art. 31 para. (6) and art. 77 para. (6) and (7) of the National Education Law no. 1/2011, with subsequent amendments and completions.

Graduates of high school education, technological branch, who take and pass the certification exam obtain the level 4 qualification certificate, according to the National Qualifications Framework, and the descriptive supplement of the certificate, in Europass format.

Post-secondary education is organized for professional qualifications established by the Ministry of National Education in accordance with the National Qualifications Register.

High school graduates, with or without a baccalaureate diploma, may enroll in post-secondary education, admission being carried out in accordance with the general criteria established by the Ministry of National Education.

Post-secondary education is provided through post-secondary schools and foremen's schools. Both the post-secondary school and the foremen’s school represent specialized training routes, with a duration of 1-3 years, depending on the complexity of the qualification.

Graduates of post-secondary education who pass the professional qualification certification exam obtain a level 5 qualification certificate according to the National Qualifications Framework, corresponding to reference level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (specialist technician) and the descriptive supplement to the certificate, according to Europass.

Post-secondary education is organized in post-secondary schools, within high schools with legal personality, or in colleges within accredited higher education institutions.

State-funded post-secondary education is financed through the local budgets of administrative-territorial units, from amounts broken down from state budget revenues and from local budget revenues. Education can also be financed by applicants, natural or legal persons, through a contract concluded with the educational institution providing the schooling.

Credits for education and vocational training obtained in post-secondary education may be recognized for graduates with a baccalaureate diploma by universities, based on the decisions of the university senate, as transferable study credit units for the bachelor's level.

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Enrollment in primary education is based on a methodology approved by the Ministry of Education.

Thus, children who turn 6 years old by August 31, 2018, including, must be enrolled in the preparatory class, in accordance with the Education Law.

Parents must go to school inspectorates and education units, these having the obligation to ensure information and counseling regarding enrollment.

Lists with school districts must be displayed at the headquarters of inspectorates and education units, and parents must be informed about the content of educational activities carried out in the preparatory class, the teaching approach, the organization of the school program, etc.

Children who turn 6 years old during the period September 1 - December 31, 2018, including, can be enrolled if their psychosomatic development is appropriate.

All education units have the obligation to provide information regarding the enrollment procedure of children in primary education regardless of whether the parents are part of the respective district or not.

Teaching and Research Titles

Employment in a teaching or research position within higher education institutions is made for a fixed term or an indefinite period. Employment for an indefinite period in any teaching or research position is possible only through a public competition, organized by the higher education institution, after obtaining the doctoral degree. See also HG_457_2011(annex 8).

Only persons who meet the minimum and mandatory standards for enrolling in the competition for teaching and research positions in higher education, approved by Order no. 6560/2012 regarding the approval of the minimal and mandatory standards for granting teaching titles in higher education and the professional degrees of research and development, with subsequent amendments and completions (annex 9), may apply for teaching and research positions in higher education.

The following teaching and research positions can be found in higher education institutions:

- teaching positions:

a) university assistant;

b) university lecturer/laboratory head;

c) university associate professor;

d) university professor.

- research positions:

a) research assistant;

b) scientific researcher;

c) scientific researcher grade III;

d) scientific researcher grade II;

e) scientific researcher grade I.

The equivalence of research positions with teaching positions is as follows:

a) scientific researcher is equivalent to university assistant, for persons holding a doctoral degree;

b) scientific researcher grade III is equivalent to university lecturer/laboratory head;

c) scientific researcher grade II is equivalent to university associate professor;

d) scientific researcher grade I is equivalent to university professor.

The general nomenclature of teaching and auxiliary research positions in higher education is approved by Joint Order (MENCS/MMFPSPV) no. 6419/2858/2011 (annex 10).

Higher education institutions with available positions can be found here: www.jobs.edu.ro

The National Evaluation for 8th grade students represents the method of external summative assessment of the skills acquired during lower secondary education.

The exam takes place annually, in a single session. Both candidates from public education and those from private education have the right to take the National Evaluation free of charge.

The average obtained at the 8th Grade National Evaluation is a decisive criterion for admission to high school education.

The coordination at the national level of the planning, organization and conduct of the 8th Grade National Evaluation, as well as the utilization of its results, is ensured by the Ministry of Education through the National Center for Assessment and Examination (CNEE).

The development of the specific assessment procedures is carried out by CNEE, following consultation with the specialty departments within the ministry.

The coordination at the county/Bucharest municipality level of the organization of the 8th Grade National Evaluation, as well as the utilization of its results, is ensured by the school inspectorate.

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The "School after school" (SDS) program is a complementary program to the compulsory school curriculum, which offers opportunities for formal and non-formal learning, for consolidating competences, remedial learning and accelerated learning through educational, recreational, and leisure activities, and is addressed to both primary and secondary school students.

The SDS program can take place before or after the compulsory school schedule (depending on the timetable of each level of study), at schools, if they have the necessary material and human resources for organizing this program.

In primary education, the SDS program includes activities with specialized support (supervision and guidance in doing homework, recovery for students with cognitive, emotional difficulties, language disorders through remedial activities, counseling, speech therapy, activities to encourage independent reading, etc.), workshops/thematic activities and other recreational activities.

Each school, depending on the target group, sets up modules of activity packages, by combining the activities mentioned above.

In secondary education, the SDS program includes the package of activities for accelerated learning and performance (preparation for participation in school competitions and olympiads, sports competitions, artistic, by discipline, participation/organization of festivals, exhibitions, making school publications, participation in European cooperation activities), the support activities package (ensuring psycho-pedagogical assistance for recovering learning gaps, support activities for homework, remedial activities, psychological counseling) and the life preparation package (organizing personal development activities, activities targeting the development of active attitude and student involvement, healthy lifestyle, career education, etc.).

The program can be organized in modules, for time units established at the level of the educational unit depending on the target group and the identified needs, by combining packages of activities oriented towards the development of transferable competences.

The program is carried out in groups of students (a maximum of 12 students), formed according to the identified options and needs. The activities are designed, organized and supported by teachers in primary and secondary education, counselors, support teachers, librarians, speech therapists, lab assistants, pedagogues, coaches, school mediators, volunteers from the school, and from authorized partner institutions and organizations.

Educational incentives are granted to children from disadvantaged families provided that the following criteria are cumulatively met:

a) the child is enrolled in a preschool education unit, according to LEN no. 1/2011, with its subsequent amendments and completions;

b) the monthly income per family member is up to twice the level of the guaranteed minimum income for a single person, provided by Law no. 416/2001 regarding the guaranteed minimum income, with its subsequent amendments and completions.

Law no. 248/2015 regarding the stimulation of participation in preschool education of children from disadvantaged families; Government Decision No. 15/2016 for the approval of the methodological norms for applying the provisions of Law no. 248/2015 regarding the stimulation of participation in preschool education of children from disadvantaged families and the procedure for granting social vouchers for kindergarten.

The Ministry of Education has been running for over 12 years the national social protection program "Bani de liceu", through which it provides financial support for students from high schools and art and trade schools.

For students who wish to obtain this financial support, we have launched the Bani de liceu portal, which, together with the discussion forum dedicated to this national program, represents an efficient means of information.

Beneficiaries are students who are supported by families whose gross monthly income per family member, realized in the last 3 months before submitting the file, is a maximum of 500 lei, as well as students who benefit from a protection measure or are under guardianship or trusteeship if the above-mentioned income condition is met.

The documents must be submitted as copies, provided that, when submitting the application, the applicant also presents the original documents.

IMPORTANT!

By adopting Government Decision 712/2018 (available attached), starting with the school year 2018-2019, each beneficiary will receive monthly, throughout the duration of the courses, provided that all the legal conditions are met, the amount of 250 lei/month.
Besides the indexation of this amount (from 180 lei/month), the maximum grant value for the scholarship has also been increased from 150 lei to 500 lei/family member, given the need to correlate the grant ceiling with the current economic situation.

The admission of 8th grade graduates to state high school education for the 2018-2019 school year takes place according to the normative framework approved by the Ministry of Education.

The admission of 8th grade graduates to state high school education for the 2018-2019 school year takes place in accordance with the methodology for organizing and conducting the admission to state high school education for the 2011-2012 school year, approved by the order of the Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports no. 4.802/2010 regarding the organization and conduct of the admission to state high school education for the 2011-2012 school year.

Aptitude tests organized for admission in the 2018-2019 school year to vocational high schools are held in accordance with the methodology for organization, conduct and structure of the aptitude tests for admission to vocational high schools, provided in annex no. 3 to the order of the Minister of National Education no. 4.432/2014, with subsequent modifications.

The admission of 8th grade graduates to state vocational education for the 2018-2019 school year takes place in accordance with the Methodology for organizing and conducting the admission to state vocational education, approved by the Order of the Minister of National Education and Scientific Research no. 5.068/2016.

The admission of 8th grade graduates to dual vocational education for the 2018-2019 school year takes place in accordance with the framework methodology for the organization and conduct of the admission to dual vocational education for professional qualifications of level 3, according to the National Qualifications Framework, approved by the order of the Minister of National Education no. 3.556/2017.

Candidates who pass, during secondary education, internationally recognized exams for certification of language skills in foreign languages may request recognition and equivalence of the results obtained in these exams with the test for assessment of modern language proficiency for admission to 9th grade classes with a bilingual program of teaching an internationally circulated modern language.

This procedure regulates the way of organizing and conducting the language proficiency test for admission to the 5th grade with an intensive teaching program of a modern international language, at the level of public or private pre-university education units in Romania, based on the provisions of Art. 6 (2) and (3) from the Framework Regulation for the organization and functioning of classes with intensive and bilingual teaching of a modern language in pre-university education units, approved by OMEN no. 4797/31.08.2017.

The Ministry of National Education informs that, in order to include children aged between 3 and 6 years in preschool education, the following stages will take place, successively, at the level of each educational unit:

• re-enrollment of children who attend kindergarten in this school year and wish to attend it in the 2018-2019 school year as well - will begin on May 7;
• enrollment of new children will take place starting May 21.

The schedule for re-enrollments and enrollments will be set by the management of each educational unit and will be posted, in a visible place, in each kindergarten, for the information of parents and interested members of the public, including on its website (if available), and possibly on the websites of school inspectorates.

The filling of available spots, after the completion of the re-enrollment process, will generally be done in descending order of age groups, as follows: the large group (5-year-old children), the middle group (4-year-old children), and the small group (3-year-old children). Based on Government Decision no. 1,252/2012 and within the available spots, children aged between 2 and 3 years can also be enrolled in the small group.

If, in an educational unit, the number of enrollment applications is greater than the number of available spots, general and specific tie-breaking criteria will be applied, successively.

The general tie-breaking criteria are as follows:

• existence of a document proving that a child is an orphan of both parents (the situation of a child coming from an orphanage/a placement center/family placement is assimilated to the situation of a child orphan of both parents);
• existence of a document proving that the child is orphan of one parent;
• existence of a brother/sister enrolled in the respective educational unit;
• existence of a medical certificate attesting the degree of disability of the child.

The specific tie-breaking criteria (developed by each preschool education unit, approved by its Board of Administration, and endorsed by the County School Inspectorate/the Bucharest Municipality School Inspectorate by May 18) cannot be discriminatory and cannot include pre-enrollment lists. Also, the specific tie-breaking criteria will be applied only after the exhaustion of the general criteria.

To ensure the transparency of the re-enrollment/enrollment process, the management of preschool educational units will openly display, for all interested parties, the following information:

• the institution's capacity (the number of children it was designed for);
• the number of spots approved through the schooling plan for the 2018-2019 school year (by age groups: small, middle, large);
• the general and specific criteria for children's enrollment;
• the number of re-enrolled/enrolled children daily (within the established period) out of the total available.

We mention that private preschool education units are also obliged to post, in a visible place, information regarding their status, specifically whether they are authorized to operate provisionally or are accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance in Pre-University Education (ARACIP).