If you didn’t get a kindergarten place in stage I or II, the adjustment stage (etapa de ajustări) is the last chance in the state system for that school year. It’s run at ISJ Cluj (the school inspectorate) level, for children still unplaced, who choose among kindergartens with remaining free places after stage II. For the 2026–2027 school year, the adjustment stage runs in Cluj from 17–27 August 2026, with final results published on 28 August 2026.

Below you’ll find what it is, when it runs, how to apply and your alternatives if you still don’t get a place.

What the adjustment stage is

Kindergarten enrollment follows a fixed order: re-enrollment → stage I → stage II → adjustment stage. Children who don’t get a place in one stage are reprocessed in the next.

The adjustment stage is the last one and is for:

  • children still unplaced after stages I and II;
  • children who did not take part in the first stages.

It’s run at the inspectorate level (the county enrollment commission), not at each kindergarten, and the choice is only among units that still have free places after stage II.

The legal framework is Order ME no. 4018/2024, amended for 2026–2027 by Orders ME no. 3706/2026 and 3707/2026 (Official Gazette no. 343/28.04.2026).

The 2026–2027 calendar in Cluj

For the 2026–2027 school year, the calendar posted by ISJ Cluj is:

  • Re-enrollment: 18–22 May 2026 (remaining free places: 22 May).
  • Stage I: 25 May – 18 June 2026 (results + free places: 18 June).
  • Stage II: 22 June – 9 July 2026 (results: 9 July).
  • Adjustment stage: 17–27 August 2026 (final results: 28 August).

Confirm the dates. These are the 2026–2027 dates; next year they change. Always check the exact calendar on ISJ Cluj. See also our guide to the enrollment calendar.

How to apply in the adjustment stage

  1. Check the list of free places published after stage II (in Cluj, 9 July 2026) — to see which kindergartens still have places. How to find the list is explained in our guide to free places by stage.
  2. Submit the standard request + documents at ISJ Cluj, between 17–27 August, with up to 3 options, only among units with remaining places.
  3. Check the final results on 28 August 2026.

Places are allocated in order of the tiebreak criteria a child meets, not “first come, first served”. See how it works in our guide to the tiebreak criteria.

In the adjustment stage, priority goes to: (1) children aged 4 and 5 who remain unenrolled; (2) children who were assessed for the preparatory class and not admitted; (3) children aged 2.

Is there an appeal?

Here it’s important not to have wrong expectations: at preschool level there is no formal appeal stage against not getting a place (unlike preparatory-class enrollment). You have the right to withdraw your rejected file, but the real remedy is moving to the next stage (stage II, then adjustment) and the free-places list. If you see an appeal deadline mentioned somewhere, confirm it directly with ISJ Cluj.

Your alternatives if you still don’t get a place

  • Private kindergarten — their admissions are separate and don’t follow this calendar. See the options on the interactive map.
  • Transfer later in the year, to a kindergarten where a place frees up — see the transfer procedure.
  • Free places monitored constantly — the state system does not guarantee a waiting list; see the nursery waiting list for how it works in practice.

For nurseries (ages 0–3), the calendar and adjustment stage are handled by the municipal network (“Creșa pentru Educație Timpurie Cluj-Napoca”) at creseclujnapoca.ro, not by ISJ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the kindergarten adjustment stage? It’s the last enrollment stage in the state system, at inspectorate level, for children still unplaced after stages I and II, who choose among kindergartens with remaining free places.

When is the adjustment stage in 2026? For the 2026–2027 school year, in Cluj, from 17–27 August 2026, with final results on 28 August. Confirm the dates with ISJ Cluj.

How do I apply in the adjustment stage? You check the free-places list after stage II, submit the standard request with up to 3 options (only units with places) at ISJ Cluj, and check the results on 28 August.

Can I appeal if I don’t get a place? At preschool level there is no formal appeal stage. The remedy is moving to the next stage and monitoring free places. Confirm with ISJ Cluj.

What do I do if I still don’t get a place? You can choose a private kindergarten, wait for a transfer when a place frees up, or monitor free places. The state system doesn’t guarantee a waiting list.

Sources

See all our official sources on the data sources page.

Conclusion

The adjustment stage is the last chance in the state system: you choose among kindergartens with remaining places, apply at ISJ Cluj (17–27 August 2026) and get the result on 28 August. If you don’t get a place, there’s private, transfer and monitoring free places. You’ll find every kindergarten in Cluj-Napoca on the interactive piticluj.ro map.