(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Even before a child enters grade school, these youngsters can take advantage of early education services offered by Madison City Schools.

First Class Pre-Kindergarten prepares four-year-olds with age-appropriate child development to enter kindergarten at age five. Pre-kindergarten teachers use a curriculum based on scientific research (madisoncity.k12.al.us).

Teachers are attentive to different needs, interests, abilities, learning styles and developmental levels of each child. With the curriculum, students advance toward guidelines for performance standards defined by the state Office of School Readiness.

Registration for First Class is open through April 30.

Early Beginnings Preschool provides a balanced variety of developmentally appropriate experiences designed to foster learning and social development for all children. Students without disabilities must be four years old on or before Sept. 1.

The student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team may place a three- or four-year-old in Early Beginnings who has a minimum 25-percent delay in two or more developmental areas and has qualified for special education services.

Parents who think their child may have a disability or significant delay should contact the special education department at the Central Office. Call 256-464-8370.

Registration for Early Beginnings is April 28 through May 9.

HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) HIPPY involves parents in helping their children who are three, four and five years old to be ready to enroll in school. For more information, call HIPPY Coordinator Summer Williams at 256-464-8370, ext. 10361 or email to snwilliams@madisoncity.k12.al.us.

Registration for HIPPY is open from April 1 through Aug. 31.

For more information, call the Central Office at 256-464-8370 or visit madisoncity.k12.al.us and click the “Instruction” tab and then click “Preschool.”