Photo by Richard Hurd
MMSD Expands Full-Day 4K and Launches Pilot of Five-Day Programming for 2025–26 School Year
MADISON, Wis.—In time for 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.
“We are committed to offering highly desired opportunities for families with school-aged children in MMSD,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent. “We’re seeing annual increases in our 4K enrollment, which speaks to the reputation we’ve built for high-quality, accessible early learning options. Expanding options for families and reducing transitions for our youngest learners helps strengthen our school communities from the very beginning.”
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, giving families more flexibility while 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, August 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.
In recent years, and across the 2020 and 2024 operations referendums, MMSD has prioritized the continued growth of its 4K program, which provides free, high-quality early learning experiences to prepare students for success in kindergarten and beyond. This increased capacity reflects the district’s commitment to meeting the needs of working families, strengthening connections between young learners and their neighborhood schools, and increasing equitable access to early education.
This expansion also deepens the district’s commitment to ensuring children with the greatest needs have access to a well-rounded, developmentally appropriate early learning experience. By increasing the number of full-day and extended-week seats — both in neighborhood schools and through community partners — MMSD is working to remove barriers and open more pathways for all families to participate.
The changes are part of a broader, long-term strategy to embed 4K in every MMSD elementary school, while also expanding partnerships with early childhood education providers in areas where access to child care is limited. By offering more full-day and extended-week options, the district aims to give families greater choice and stability during a pivotal stage of child development.
“We’re doing more than adding classrooms,” said Culleen Witthuhn, director of early learning. “We’re reimagining how we serve our youngest learners. When children have more time to explore, create and build relationships in a consistent setting, it deepens their learning and sets the stage for long-term success.”
Spots in the new sections are open. Families can learn more about MMSD’s 4K program and enrollment process by visiting the district’s website.
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About the Madison Metropolitan School District: The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.