Registration opens for ‘drawing’ of pre-kindergarten slots in MCS

MADISON – Madison City Schools is accepting online pre-registration for the First Class Pre-Kindergarten Program for the 2020-2021 school year.

Enrollment is open to all children who will be four years old on or before Sept. 2, 2020 and are residents of the State of Alabama. Children who are eligible for kindergarten are ineligible for pre-kindergarten.

Pre-registration ends March 18.

Acceptance in pre-kindergarten is strictly through random drawing that will be held March 25 at 9 a.m. at Central Office, 211 Celtic Drive. The drawing (or ‘lottery’ of sorts) is needed because the program has more applicants than classroom openings. A parent or guardian is not required to attend the drawing. The district will email notices to pre-K families starting April 16.

To participate, each child must provide a birth certificate documenting that he/she is 4 years old (and not yet 5) on or before September 1, 2020 and must also be an Alabama resident. Documentation for proof of residence can be a current utility bill or a copy of a lease or mortgage.

Parents/guardians must complete the online pre-registration form in its entirety. Double-check spelling and capitalization of names and addresses recorded on the form. This information will enter MCS’ official database exactly as typed.

Submitting this form places the child in the selection process randomly for Alabama First Class Pre-K random. If the child’s name is drawn for a space in a program, the district will notify the parent/guardian. Children who are not selected will be on a waiting list for any future available spaces.

This online pre-registration process requires that each family enter a valid email address to establish an account. If the family has more than one child eligible for pre-kindergarten, only one family account is needed.

Enrollees must provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate and upload it into the online pre-registration site. After the child is enrolled, parents or guardians must provide the child’s immunization record.

MCS does not charge a registration fee for pre-K. The district will not deny participation of any child on the basis on income, sex, race, color, national origin or disability.

For more information, visit madisoncity.k12.al.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=31 or children.alabama.org.