Boise School District plans for full-day kindergarten. But funding is still a question
The Boise School District is moving forward with plans to offer optional full-day kindergarten to all students next school year.
The Board of Trustees on Monday approved a motion to allow the district’s administration to continue with its planning for full-day kindergarten, an idea that has garnered support among teachers, administrators and legislators in recent years.
“Our interests in shifting to a full-day kindergarten program across the district would be to provide equitable and accessible full-day kindergarten for all children in the Boise School District,” Deputy Superintendent Lisa Roberts said during a presentation Monday night.
Currently, the state funds half-day kindergarten and the Boise School District charges tuition on a sliding scale for the full-day option. At full cost, families have to pay about $250 per month. At two schools, the district offers the full-day option for free.
This school year, 20 schools in the district offer a full-day option and 40% of the kindergarten population in the district is enrolled in the full day.
Roberts said Monday the district would hope to see more students enroll in kindergarten with the shift. The district typically sees a bump in enrollment from kindergarten to first grade, she said. She added administrators would also like to see an improvement in kids’ social and academic skills entering the first grade.
“Our vision would be to have 100% pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills for all students by first grade,” she said.
Teachers and experts have said educators are able to accomplish far more in full-day programs than in the half day program. A study analyzing results from the Idaho Reading Indicator showed kids in full-day kindergarten programs improved their scores and outpaced those in half-day programs.
State legislators this session also plan to push to fund optional full-day kindergarten. The idea has bipartisan support, and legislators are hopeful they will be able to get something through this year.
“This is literally changing the course of their life,” Amy Adams, a kindergarten teacher at Mountain View Elementary School, said in a video presentation. “They will now be able to read going into first grade. They’ll be able to write, they’ll be able to do things in math that they haven’t been able to do.”
How will Boise School District pay for full-day kindergarten?
Roberts estimated it would cost about $2.7 million per year. That would include adding 37 full-time educators, including two special education teachers, and setting up 14 additional classrooms.
Funds will be allocated when trustees work on the budget at the end of this school year. The funding could come from the state if the Idaho Legislature approves a full-day kindergarten proposal.
Trustees supported the proposal and said offering the full-day kindergarten option at no cost would make kids better prepared as they continued with their education.
“We are changing the future for our state by making a move like this, which I am just thrilled about,” Trustee Elizabeth Langley said.
This is a discussion that has been in the works for years, said Dave Wagers, Board of Trustees president.
“When I first joined the board, like seven years ago, I know we were talking about kindergarten. We had workshop topics on it. How much does it cost? Why aren’t we doing it?” he said. “And now we’re doing it. I’m very excited to support this.”
