Photo: Kate Samp for Strategies for Children

Strategies for Children has updated its statewide kindergarten maps and charts. The latest data show 95 percent of kindergarten students enrolled in full-day programs, up from only 29 percent in 2000, and continuing the long-term trend towards full-day.

This school year, 56 districts charge tuition for full-day kindergarten, down from 77 in 2009-2010 school year.

However not all kindergarten trends are positive. A new survey by Strategies for Children shows that program quality may be declining for districts that previously received Kindergarten Quality grants from the state.

Kindergarten grants were great for Massachusetts. School districts used the funds to plan growth and expand high-quality programs, which helped the state achieve near-universal full-day kindergarten. But in fiscal year 2017, kindergarten grants were cut from the state budget. 

How did this effect schools and families? Of the 164 districts that lost grant funding, 40 responded to our survey, representing urban, suburban and rural areas of the state.

The survey found some good news. No programs turned a full-day program back to half-day. Districts reported using local funding to sustain kindergarten programs after losing the grant.

There were, however, cuts that could hurt kindergarten program quality.

• Class sizes increased (13 out of 40 districts surveyed)

• Paraprofessional staff were cut (12 out of 40 districts)

• Program quality was cut (20 out of 40 districts)

Quality losses included: NAEYC accreditation, professional development, materials and supplies, curriculum use, family engagement, and wrap-around services.

Strategies for Children encourages parents, educators, and community leaders to monitor their local kindergarten policies, and raise awareness about any changes that may negatively impact program quality and children’s early learning experience. Kindergarten is a critical point in the birth-third grade trajectory of early learning, so it is important that the kindergarten year be as high-quality an experience as possible, for children, families, and teachers.

To learn more, read our full-day kindergarten fact sheet, and check out our full-day kindergarten enrollment map, our tuition rates chart, and our tuition map.

To find out how the Massachusetts story compares with other states, check out a recent 50-state review of full-day kindergarten policy by the Education Commission of the States.