Nizhny Novgorod Region has become a "pilot" for automatic applications for the first grade.

      March 23, 2026 16:32 Society The Nizhny Novgorod region has become one of the pilot regions where a mechanism for the automatic submission of applications for enrolling children in the first grade is being implemented. Parents of future first-graders can already fill out drafts of applications on the "Gosuslugi" portal.

      When the admission campaign starts (no later than April 1), in most cases, parents will only need to press the "Send" button. Moreover, there is a provision for automatic submission of the application.

      Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Yegor Polyakov noted that the procedure has been simplified as much as possible. "When filling out the draft, parents will need to check a special box, and at the start of the campaign, their application will be sent automatically," he emphasized.

      Along with the Nizhny Novgorod region, 16 other regions are participating in the pilot.

      Each school independently sets the time for accepting documents, but it must be no later than April 1. At the same time, a phased enrollment process is maintained: until June 30, applications from families living in the designated area, as well as from privileged categories, will be accepted. From July 6 to September 5, all interested parties can submit documents if there are available spots.

      The head of the regional Ministry of Education, Mikhail Puchkov, pointed out that the previous application submission procedure was stressful for parents. Many had to wait for the start of the campaign, which often begins at midnight, to be able to submit their application. Now, the minister explained, it is enough to fill out the application in advance and save it.

      "On April 1, the system will automatically send the application for the first grade to the school to which your home is attached based on the territorial principle," Puchkov noted.

      At the same time, the option to choose a school not based on the place of registration remains: such applications can still be submitted in the second wave — starting July 6.

      It is expected that in the new academic year, schools in the region will accept about 35,000 first-graders.

      The development of digital services, including the "Gosuslugi" portal, is being carried out as part of the national project "Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State," implemented on the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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