Nampa schools to offer all-day kindergarten

Three Nampa grade schools will offer optional all-day kindergarten starting this fall, the Idaho Press-Tribune reported this week.

Nampa.logoOwyhee, Reagan and Lake Ridge elementary schools will offer all-day kindergarten to parents who are willing to pay for the extra school hours. The cost will come to $2,160 for the school year, the Press-Tribune reported.

Kindergarten is optional in Idaho, and the state only funds half-day kindergarten.

But Nampa’s move comes as the state is looking to ramping up help for struggling readers — and state-funded all-day kindergarten is among the options. The state’s $9.1 million literacy initiative is designed to provide extra help for kindergartners through third-graders who do not read at grade level. It will be up to districts to decide whether to offer all-day kindergarten, or choose a different approach.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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