The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is expanding its tuition-free four-year-old kindergarten (4K) offerings for the 2026–27 school year with a full-day 4K pilot program. The program is open to families who live in the attendance areas for Northside Elementary School and Sauk Trail Elementary School; it will be hosted at Northside Elementary School.
Registration for the pilot program opened in January and quickly filled up. The District will continue to offer half-day 4K programs at its Early Learning Center and nine community-partner sites.
“We’re excited to introduce this pilot to give a small group of 4-year-old children the chance to spend the full school day learning and playing together in a supportive, play-based environment,” said MCPASD 4K–Early Childhood Principal Katie Kavanaugh. “Our goal is to make early learning more accessible for families who need a full-day option and to help our youngest learners build strong foundations before kindergarten.”
Kavanaugh said the pilot program supports the District’s strategic goal of expanding access and readiness for its youngest learners. She said the program aims to gather data on outcomes, logistics, and family interest before district-wide consideration.
In addition, MCPASD is rolling out a program called Flying into Kindergarten as part of its expanded Summer Academy offerings. Flying into Kindergarten is designed for incoming kindergarten students to help them build confidence, become comfortable in a school environment, and develop early learning and social skills before the first day of school.
Four sections of Flying into Kindergarten will take place during a six-week session in June and July at Sauk Trail Elementary School. Both sessions are full.
More information about MCPASD’s 4K program and how to enroll is available at https://www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/o/mcpasd4k.