Madison County Schools opens First Class Pre‑K preregistration, outlines eligibility and document requirements

Lynn Davis, preschool resource specialist for Madison County Schools, said preregistration for the district's First Class Pre‑K program opens in January and that a random selection process will take place in March. "Preregistration is open in January, and random selection process will take place in March," she said.

Davis said families must complete two required steps to be eligible for the March drawing: a new student PowerSchool enrollment for Madison County Schools and a preregistration on the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education's Alliseed website. "Both steps are required," she said, and completing only one will not make a child eligible for selection.

To qualify for First Class Pre‑K in Madison County Schools, Davis said a child must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 and not yet 5. The custodial parent must live in the school's attendance zone, and residency must be verified by the school at least one week prior to the random selection date. Davis also said children must be fully potty trained.

Davis listed the documents families must upload in PowerSchool: the child's birth certificate, the Alabama Certificate of Immunization, a current utility bill, a second proof of residence, and the custodial parent's photo ID. She said residency verification must be completed at least one week before the selection drawing.

The district offers First Class Pre‑K at multiple elementary schools: Central, Harvest, Hazel Green, Legacy, Madison County, Madison Crossroads, Monrovia, Mount Carmel, New Hope, Newmarket, Owens Crossroads and Walnut Grove. Because Madison County Schools adheres to zoning requirements, Davis said children may only preregister at their zoned school; families with addresses zoned outside those schools will not be eligible for those locations.

Davis added that First Class Pre‑K is also offered at some child care centers and churches; families may register for those locations regardless of residence. She directed families to search available sites on the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education's Alliseed website.

She described the program as a full‑day option Monday through Friday that follows the Madison County School calendar and said pre‑K families should follow elementary school schedules for closings, delays or early dismissals.

Davis closed with advice for preparing children for kindergarten readiness: read together, practice routines and independence (dressing and handwashing), encourage social skills, and ensure children can manage bathroom needs independently.

To begin the registration process, Davis said families should review the information on the district website's accordion menu, search their school zone and complete both the PowerSchool enrollment and the LSE preregistration. "We look forward to welcoming your family to the preschool program, and we look forward to seeing you this fall," she said.