The surprising change Caldwell School District just announced to its kindergarten program

The Caldwell School District will start offering full-day, tuition-free kindergarten this fall, the school district announced Friday.

Only a few school districts in the Treasure Valley have instituted full-time kindergarten. Nampa School District announced in March that new funding for the early literacy program was allowing it to offer kindergarten without tuition. Previously, Kuna School District was the only district that offered it.

“With full-day kindergarten for every child, it gives them a step up,” Caldwell Superintendent Shalene French said. “They have the same access to those standards and the same access to great teachers.”

Larger school districts have yet to institute all-day kindergarten. The Boise School District and West Ada School District charge tuition of $250 and $300 respectively for the program and only offer it at select schools.

Caldwell’s program is financed by the recent doubling of state funds for early literacy programs at the direction of Gov. Brad Little, French said in a video making the announcement.

Previously, only Washington and Wilson Elementary Schools offered full-day, every-day kindergarten within the district.

Parents can enroll their children in kindergarten from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 10 at Canyon Springs High School, 516 N. 11th Ave. Children must be age 5 by Sept. 1, 2019, to enroll.

To register, parents need to bring their child, a copy of their child’s birth certificate and immunization records, their photo ID and a proof of address. At the registration, children will complete an academic screening, as well as have their vision and hearing checked.

This story was originally published April 12, 2019 at 11:16 AM.