Colorado Springs school district to offer free all-day kindergarten this fall

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a strong proponent of free all-day kindergarten for Colorado families, attended an event Thursday in Colorado Springs in which a school district announced it will offer such a program this fall.

Polis and Lt. Gov. Diane Primavera met Academy School District 20 administrators, teachers and parents at High Plains Elementary School for the official announcement.

District 20 plans to offer the program regardless of the outcome of a proposed bill in the Legislature that would fund free all-day kindergarten for all of the state’s public school children.

The state covers nearly 60% percent of the cost of half-day and full-day kindergarten, with districts paying the rest from their budgets, property tax revenue or charging tuition to parents.

As one of the few local districts charging tuition, District 20 receives nearly $1 million in revenue from annual tuition payments of $1,900.

If a statewide finding bill passes, the district plans to use the state money for start-up costs related to providing all-day kindergarten.

“We’ll have to add some modulars to a school or two, but by and large we have the space available right now, said Superintendent Mark Hatchell. “One of the really nice things about Academy District 20 is we really haven’t been hit with a teachers’ shortage, so we still have plenty of applicants — particularly for our elementary positions.”

Kindergarten teachers like Sarah Woody said no additional training is necessary to adjust to free, full-day kindergarten.

“It’s so important, especially at that age,” she said. “Kindergarten students need a lot more one-on-one attention. You’re spending a lot more time helping to solve social conflicts on top of bringing them up to speed on all the academics.”

Heather Henneman has a son who will attend the district’s program this fall.

“I think that it does prepare kids — academically, emotionally and socially — for going the full day in first grade,” she said. “My two girls attended half-day kindergarten and were academically ready for first grade, but going all day made them tired for the first few months.

Henneman said District 20’s upcoming program will make early education more affordable and accessible to families, even for low-income families who pay a reduced tuition of $500 or $1,000.

“The other side think it’s not right that those kids should be cooped up and studying all day,” Polis said. “That’s not what kindergarten is. It’s evidence-based, it’s science-based. It includes structured play, and social and emotional learning. They’re doing everything they should be doing at that age.”

Polis also read to a kindergarten class during his visit Thursday.

Enrollment for District 20’s program continues through May 31. Students from outside the district are allowed to register and families have the option of registering their children for both kindergarten options.

The district plans to prepare for three classes with a maximum of 25 students at each of its 24 elementary schools.

This year, more than 700 students attended half-day kindergarten and more than 900 enrolled in full-day kindergarten.

There is no effort currently to require Colorado children to attend all-day kindergarten, and parents may choose to have their children skip kindergarten.

Twelve states require all-day kindergarten for public school students.