MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama is adding 58 new First Class Pre-K classrooms this fall, bringing the total to 1,528 classrooms across the state. The continued growth of the program, announced Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey, means more four-year-olds will have access to high-quality early learning in the 2025–26 school year.
Around 24,000 four-year-olds were enrolled last year.
“The early years of a child’s life are the most critical for laying the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health,” Ivey said. “High-quality prekindergarten programs like Alabama’s First Class Pre-K don’t just prepare our children for kindergarten, they lay the foundation for lifelong achievement.”
Alabama’s First Class Pre-K has been ranked the best state-funded pre-K program in the country for 19 years straight.
The program is run by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, which has focused on both growing the number of classrooms and keeping quality high.
“Our commitment to quality is unwavering,” said ADECE Secretary Ami Brooks, who was appointed in June. “We know that access alone is not enough. By holding the line on credentialing and increasing the financial resources available to support classrooms, we are making sure that every child, regardless of zip code, has access to a high-quality pre-k experience that truly prepares them for success.”
The program has in recent years focused on helping local programs attract and retain qualified teachers, enhancing the quality of children’s classroom experiences.
In a recent appearance on APTV’s Capitol Journal, Brooks said about 75% of the First Class Pre-K classrooms are located in public schools.
ADECE also oversees the state’s pre-K through third grade initiative, which added 55 new classrooms for the fall, bringing the total to 450 classrooms statewide. That initiative is focused on building on the gains children make in First Class Pre-K by helping teachers in the early grades align instruction and strengthen learning outcomes.
Families can locate a First Class Pre-K program here: https://prek.alaceed.alabama.gov/welcome?lang=en