Ahead of the start of the 2025–26 school year, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is expanding its tuition-free four-year-old kindergarten (4K) offerings to include new full-day options at Ray W. Huegel, Lapham, Midvale and John Muir elementary schools. The district is also introducing a pilot of five-day programming at Paul J. Olson Elementary School.
The pilot at Olson will be the district’s first full-day, five-days-a-week 4K section. It will operate alongside three existing half-day sections, allowing MMSD to evaluate the feasibility of extending five-day programming to more sites in the future.
Enrollment in the Olson pilot will be determined by lottery. To be eligible, families must live in the Olson attendance area and be enrolled in MMSD by Tuesday, Aug. 19. All eligible families will be automatically entered, and those selected will receive a phone call from the district’s Enrollment Department.
Prior to the announced expansion, Muir, Midvale and Olson did not offer a full-day option; both Muir and Midvale will continue to offer morning, half-day programming, in addition to the full-day option. For Huegel and Lapham, the move adds another full-day section, as well as morning programming, to both schools.
The district is also introducing full-day options at the following early care and education sites: Big Oak Child Care Center, Bernie’s Place, Goodman Community Center, Red Caboose Childcare and The Playing Field. For each of these locations, the MMSD 4K portion of the day is provided at no cost; families are responsible for any additional wraparound care that extends beyond the school day. Additional full-day spaces will also be provided at local Head Start sites.
Spots in the new sections are open. Families can learn more about MMSD’s 4K program and enrollment process on the district’s website.
