Pre-registration open for First Class Pre-K at W.C. Handy School

FLORENCE, Ala. — Pre-registration for Alabama's First Class Pre-K program for the 2026-2027 school year opened on January 15 and will remain available through March 13, according to the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.

The voluntary Pre-K program is open to Alabama residents who are 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026. Children who are eligible to attend kindergarten are not eligible for Pre-K.

Families may complete pre-registration online at https://prek.alaceed.alabama.gov. Assistance with the application is available through local First Class Pre-K programs, including the W.C. Handy Early Childhood Development Center.

To complete pre-registration, families must provide:

• A copy of the child's birth certificate
• Proof of Alabama residency

Documents may be uploaded directly to the online system or submitted to the W.C. Handy School office.

There is no registration fee for First Class Pre-K. Upon enrollment, families must provide a copy of the child's immunization record.

Selection Process

Acceptance into the First Class Pre-K program is determined through a random selection drawing; families are not required to be present. Email notifications regarding acceptance status will be sent in mid-April.

W.C. Handy School's random selection drawing will be held on March 20, 2026, at 9 a.m.

For more information about First Class Pre-K or assistance with pre-registration, families should contact the W.C. Handy School at (256) 768-3400.

By Jeremy Jackson