MADISON – Madison City Schools personnel are now accepting applications for children to enter the MCS First Class Pre-Kindergarten Center for the 2018-2019 school year.

The school system will accept applications through March 22.

The timing for accepting applications is much earlier this year because of changes that state leaders applied to the time frames for this process, MCS Public Relations Manager John S. Peck said.

To qualify, children must be four years old on or before Sept. 2, 2018 to enroll in pre-K for the 2018-19 school year. Children who are eligible for kindergarten are not eligible for pre-K.

Madison school leaders have updated all forms and have posted all information on MCS website’s application webpage. Visit madisoncity.k12.al.us and click “Madison City Accepting Pre-K Applications Jan. 16 thru March 22” in the “District News” section. Or, click madisoncity.k12.al.us/?DivisionID=7859&DepartmentID=8418.

The application process opened for available First Class Pre-K slots on Jan. 16 and will continue through March 22. School employees will enter all applications in random selection. The drawing for random selection of students for pre-K openings will be held on March 23 at 9 a.m. at MCS Central Office, 211 Celtic Drive.

Parents or guardians do not have to be present at the drawing. School leaders will email notices about acceptance no later than April 18.

Applications filed after March 22 will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list after the March 23 random-selection drawing. MCS First Class Pre-K program is available only to residents of Madison or Triana who must furnish proof of residency (with a deed/rental contract and a copy of a utility bill).

On the application webpage, links are available to other material, including a registration form in Spanish, a pre-K registration flier and descriptions of MCS pre-school programs.

For general information about First Class Pre-Kindergarten, visit children.alabama.gov.

For more information about MCS pre-kindergarten, call Angie Bush at 256-824-8080 or email abush@madisoncity.k12.al.us, or call Natalia Dooley at 256-464-8370, ext. 10355 or email nadooley@madisoncity.k12.al.us.