Full-Day Kindergarten: Worth the Cost?
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Spring marks the time for blooming flowers, warmer weather … and registering your kids for the upcoming school year.
I am a Lake in the Hills mom and my son, Evan, will go to preschool through the park district this fall. But I have a few friends who are signing up their first kid for kindergarten. I was shocked to hear that they were going to pay $250 per month for the full-day program.
You can do a lot with $250 a month, I thought. Make a car payment. Pay utilities. Eat. I turned to my mom and grandma and asked, “How much was kindergarten when I was a kid?”
“Free,” they said.
The whole thing ignited my curiosity and so, I decided to do some research on why kindergarten costs so much. In fact, I went straight to the principal of the District 300 elementary school where Evan will attend kindergarten in 2013.
She informed me that all D-300 elementary schools offer a free, half day of kindergarten, which takes place from 8:25 a.m. - 11:05 a.m. Only certain schools offer a full-day program (8:25 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.).
She confirmed that starting this fall the full day will cost $250 per month, up $25 from the 2011-2012 school year. With that extra half day, students stay for lunch and receive course work in music, physical education and computers. Plus, students have more time for additional reading and math lessons.
After kindergarten, school costs drop to only a yearly registration fee of about $100 for grades one through five.
After learning more, I was relieved to find that I have the option of sending Evan to a free, half day of kindergarten, similar to what my mom and grandmother remember from way back. But if I chose to pay the $250 per month for a full day, I bet Evan would get my money’s worth.
For a related article on the all-day kindergarten program in D-300, see the Patch.com article “District 300 Brings All-Day Kindergarten Option to LITH Schools.”
Are you or have you sent your child to a full-day kindergarten? What was your experience?
D.R.
11:13 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
My daughter is in the full-day Kindergarten program. For her it is working out great. She is one of the oldest in her class - had she been born 2 weeks earlier she would be in 1st grade now - so the extended day is appropriate for her. She is also very social and loves making and having friends, so the extra social time is right up her alley. In addition, she is enjoying the music, library, computer, gym and free time. For us, it's money well spent.
Allison Rezendes
12:46 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Dear D.R., thanks for commenting! I'm happy to hear your daughter's enjoying the extra half day. I think it's great the district offers the option. If you have any tips on preparing a preschooler for the transition to full-day kindergarten, let me know!
--Allison
C P
1:28 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
My son is in full day Kindergarten in D158 this year as was his sister 3 years ago. Thankfully we only pay an annual fee. While it is more than 1st grade and up, it is not $250/month!! There is no way he would go full day if we had to pay that!
Allison Rezendes
9:57 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Dear CP, it IS a steep price tag, right? I've heard Huntley offers a more affordable full-day program. I wonder why? Thanks for commenting!
Robin Schwenker
11:50 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
I wrote a research paper over the topic of full day vs. half-day kindergarten for one of my education classes. According to the NAEP (National Center for Education Statistics), students who attended full day kinder outperformed the half-day kinder students in reading as well as mathematics across the board. It seems like every year students are expected to learn and retain more and more, leaving full day as the best option. It does seem a little ridiculous to be charged for a public education, hopefully that extra money is going towards teaching resources, because I doubt the teacher is seeing any of that money his/herself.
Allison Rezendes
1:42 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Hi, Robin! Thank you for the very useful feedback. Great information to know.
Nicole Oliver
8:21 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
My daughter (first child) just started kindergarten. I have her going half day now (she could switch at any point). My thoughts are like yours in that I went half day when I was a child and all that, BUT now in Oct. she will be the only one in her class leaving half day. So now I am seriously considering it. The fee here in Marblehead Ma is around $3,000 for the school year. That is a totally ridiculous price for public school, but I know she would greatly benefit from it. I am so torn !!!