2010 Budget - All-Day Kindergarten

Of all the topics being discussed regarding the upcoming K-12 budget, the one that seems to get the most press is all-day Kindergarten. At present, all-day K costs the state approximately $218 million per year. There is a strong divide between those who say it is simply state paid childcare and those who say it is a critical beginning for young children.

The research tends to support both arguments. Children who attend all-day K who come from parent educated homes, with moderate to high incomes fare no better by third grade than children from the same background who only attended half-day kindergarten.

However, disadvantaged children (i.e. single parent, low-income, developmentally delayed, etc.) who attend all-day K show better results by third grade than their counterparts who attend only a half-day program.

So what is the solution? It is probably something in the middle. When all-day K first began it was only offered at low-income schools as determined by free and reduced lunch percentages. A return to this idea will probably not make either side happy but it will give each something to hang on to.

If all-day K were offered at only those schools that had 60% or more free and reduced percentages, the state would save over $100 million while still providing a critical early learning experience to children who benefit most. Districts and schools who want to offer a tuition-based program for all-day K are always welcome to do so.