Pre-K
2026-2027 Pre-Registration
2026-2027 Pre-K Registration
Pre-registration for Pre-K for the 2026-2027 school year will be open between January 15 and March 1.
Drawing Date: March 12, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Oxford City Schools Board of Education
Important Information
• First Class Pre-K programs are accepting online pre-registration applications for the 2026-2027
school year beginning January 15. (If you need assistance with accessing the online application,
contact the local school/program.)
• Enrollment is open to all children four years of age on or before 9/1/26* who are residents of
Alabama. (Children who are eligible for kindergarten are not eligible for pre-k.)
• Enrollees must provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate. (It may be uploaded into the online
pre-registration site or submitted directly to the local school/program.)
• Enrollees must provide proof of residence – either a current utility bill or copy of a lease or
mortgage. (It may be uploaded into the online pre-registration site or submitted directly to the local
school/program.)
• Public school system pre-k programs may have zoning requirements that determine eligibility for
attending a program at a particular school. (Contact the school for attendance zone information.)
• There is no registration fee for First Class Pre-K programs.
• Upon enrollment, a child’s immunization record must be provided to the school or program.
• No child will be denied participation on basis of income, sex, race, color, national origin, or disability.
To pre-register, visit: https://prek.alaceed.alabama.gov/
Acceptance into a First Class Pre-K program is strictly through random drawing. Parent/Guardian does not have to be present at drawing. Email notices of acceptance status will be sent in mid-April.
Printable Registration Information Form - English
Printable Registration Information Form - Spanish
How to Pre-Register
Welcome to Alabama First Class Pre-K Pre-Registration
https://prek.alaceed.alabama.gov/
Pre-Registration begins January 15th. Those who complete the pre-registration process and meet zoning requirements by March 1 will be entered into the random selection drawing.
You may continue to register your child after March 1, but you will not be included in the drawing. Those registered after March 1 will be entered on the waitlist in the order that they registered, as long as they meet school zoning requirements. Instructions to complete registration are below.
Create an account
- Create only one account (duplicate accounts may delay pre-registration)
- Use a valid email address
- Properly capitalize and spell names and other information
- Multiple children in the same household may be entered on the same form
Enter child and family information
- Child must be 4 years old on or before September 1st of the school year
- Child must be a resident of Alabama
Select First Class Pre-K Site(s)
- Child may be pre-registered for multiple locations on the same form
- For Oxford City Schools, please only register for the elementary school where your child will attend kindergarten.
- Submit Pre-Registration
- Places child in random selection process at each site selected
- Receive email confirmation of pre-registration
Receive Email Notification of Results of Random Selection Drawings
- By April 18th, email notification sent with results of random selection drawings for each site selected
- Child selected for an available seat will be offered the position; parent must accept or decline
- Child not selected for an available seat will be placed on the site's waiting list
If you need help with the pre-registration process, please contact the program or school where you are applying for assistance with completing the pre-registration form.
Printable How to Register for Pre-K Instructions
Eligibility
Child must be an Alabama resident and be 4 years old on or before September 1. Children who are eligible for kindergarten are not eligible for pre-k.
Documents
Upon enrollment, enrollees must provide a copy of the child's birth certificate, proof of residence and immunization record.
About Pre-K
About First Class Pre-K
Housed within the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, the Office of School Readiness (OSR) administers Alabama’s diverse delivery, voluntary, high-quality Pre-K program. Classrooms are funded through a grant process in which sites must meet specific quality assurances and abide by rigorous operating guidelines. Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program has been awarded the highest quality rating by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) for 16 consecutive years, which includes four years of highest ratings based on more stringent measures of practice.
Using a multi-pronged approach, the Office of School Readiness has implemented evidence-based strategies and methods grounded in research literature to assure that all Alabama 4-year-olds have access to excellent early learning classrooms in their communities. According to the experts, an investment in early preschool education can have positive long term impacts, including improvements in math and reading scores, and reductions in retention in grade and special education placements. The Alabama First Class Pre-K program has expanded substantially from serving just over 5,000 Alabama 4-year-olds in 2013 to more than 22,000 in 2021, yet incremental growth and strong infrastructure have allowed for quality to be maintained and monitored. The Alabama First Class Pre-K program supports quality, accountability, and student outcomes that extend well beyond kindergarten entry.
Numerous research studies have shown that students who participated in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs are less likely to repeat a grade, require remedial education, or be placed in special education; score higher on achievement tests; are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college; get higher paying salaries as adults; and are more likely to stay out of prison and off welfare.
The Office of School Readiness defines “school readiness” as a condition whereby children enter school with:
- An enthusiasm for learning;
- An ability to function in a social setting;
- Age-appropriate communication and problem-solving skills; and
- Optimal health
