Vol, 7, No. 2: January 14, 2008		Get SEAchange by email

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2. 4K sees big gains in state

Two-thirds of Wisconsin's 426 school districts now offer four-year-old kindergarten (4K), after 10 percent growth in the last year and a doubling of enrollment since 2001.

"The benefits of four-year-old kindergarten are indisputable,"said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. "Our goal is to provide quality 4K access to every child."

Wisconsin has 27,759 students enrolled in 4K as of the third Friday in September count. The enrollment in 2001-02 was 14,483.

The number of districts offering 4K grew 70 percent over the past seven years. Twenty-seven Wisconsin districts added 4K this year.

A growing trend in 4K is community approaches. Seven of the state's new 4K districts are collaborating with child care or Head Start centers to provide services to 4-year-olds and their families.

Burmaster cited a growing body of research that shows quality early childhood education provides educational and economic benefits for all children regardless of family income.

"Reports show that young children attending quality early education programs do better in school, and they have fewer referrals for special education. Their retention rates are lower, and they are more likely to graduate from high school. High-quality early learning programs raise achievement for all students and help us close the achievement gap, essentially halting the gap before it begins,"she said.

The Department of Public Instruction is working with the State Superintendent's Advisory Committee on 4K to develop procedures for awarding new 4K start-up grants included in the 2007-09 state budget. The funding will prioritize programs providing community approaches.

More information and a list of districts providing 4K during the 2007-08 school year can be found in a recent DPI news release.

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Last updated on 1/14/2008