State-Funded Full-Day Kindergarten in Washington

State-funded full-day Kindergarten is part of the state’s constitutionally protected definition of “basic education.”

By school year 2017–18, voluntary full-day Kindergarten is to be fully implemented throughout Washington state, as outlined in RCW 28A.150.315. Schools with the highest rates of poverty are to be funded first, and once a school receives funding, the school is eligible in future school years, regardless of changes in the school's percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch.

Eligibility
Current Funding
Funding for 2013-14 and 2014-15 School Years
2013-14 School Year Priority List
Overview of Washington's Full-Day Kindergarten Initiative
State Law
Helpful Resources

Eligibility
Determination of eligibility for state-funded full-day Kindergarten is based on an individual school’s poverty percentage from the prior school year. Schools must also meet the following program elements: 

• At least 1,000 hours of instruction.
• Curriculum that offers a rich, varied set of experiences that assist students in:
  • Developing initial skills in the academic areas of reading, mathematics, and writing;
  • Developing a variety of communication skills;
  • Providing experiences in science, social studies, arts, health and physical education, and a world language other than English;
  • Acquiring large and small motor skills;
  • Acquiring social and emotional skills including successful participation in learning activities as an individual and as part of a group; and
  • Learning through hands-on experiences.
• Establish learning environments that are developmentally appropriate and promote creativity.
• Demonstrate strong connections and communication with early learning community providers.
• Participate in Kindergarten program readiness activities with early learning providers and parents.

In addition, beginning in the 2012-13 school year, Kindergarten teachers in state-funded full-day Kindergarten classrooms are required to administer the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS), unless the school district has received a waiver from this requirement.

Current Funding
For the 2012-13 school year, funding is available for 22% of the state’s Kindergarten students in 222 schools (Excel) (PDF). OSPI Memorandum No. 040-12 includes the 2012-13 requirements for state-funded Kindergarten.

Funding for 2013-14 and 2014-15 School Years
As of April 11, four different budget proposals have been introduced in the Legislature, which are summarized in the table below. The final decision regarding which schools will be funded will be made in the Final Operating Budget adopted by the Legislature, which is scheduled to occur by April 28. If a final budget is not adopted by then, a special session will be necessary and it is impossible to determine when a final decision will be made.

2013-14 School Year Priority list
As required in law, OSPI has established a priority list for the 2013-14 school year based on the schools’ reported percentage of K-6 students eligible for free and reduced price lunches in October 2012 as recorded in CEDARS on May 17, 2013. The “Potentially Approved Schools” list, which is listed under “2013-2014 BUDGET ANALYSES AND WORKSHEETS,” includes schools ranked by free and reduced price lunch and where the school is relative to the total percentage of kindergarten students statewide (See column on right). For example, if a school has 35% in the “% of K” column, it would be funded in the 2013-14 school year in the House Republican, Governor, and House budget proposals, but not in the Senate proposal.

Overview
Download a one-page overview of Washington’s full-day Kindergarten initiative.

State Law

• RCW 28A.150.315 Establishes the timeline and required elements of Full-day Kindergarten
• ESHB 2586 (2012) Creates the Legislative WaKIDS workgroup
• WAC 392-122-421 Definition full-day Kindergarten program
• WAC 392-122-422 Applicable provisions
• WAC 392-122-423 Determination of eligibility for full-day Kindergarten program
• WAC 392-122-424 Applications and approvals
• WAC 392-122-425 Subsequent determination of eligible schools
• WAC 392-122-426 Apportionment of state moneys for full-day Kindergarten