Pushing for full-day kindergarten in Indiana.

Indiana Gov. Joe Keman has done something few others have accomplished. He's found money to fund full-day kindergarten--despite a nearly $1 billion budget deficit.

His Early Learning Trust proposal faces an uphill battle. Republicans, including the state superintendent of education, question its financial viability. And the state's General Assembly rejected full-day kindergarten in 1999, when the state had a $2 billion surplus.

The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, teachers' unions and parents support the governor's measure, which hinges on a series of votes and would fund full-day kindergarten, pilot pre-kindergarten programs, and family learning resources. The bulk of the funds for the proposal are held in the Common School Fund, which cannot be tapped until 2007 because it requires a constitutional amendment.

The state can begin the program next year if the General Assembly agrees to redirect $30 million from lottery and gaming funds and $11.5 million from abandoned property by March 15. This reallocation would occur annually to pay for full-day kindergarten for 26,000 students for three years beginning in 2004-05 school year.

The proposal also provides $20 million for pilot pre-kindergarten programs and pays for early literacy resources to support parents. It will target parents with infants through school-aged children, supplying information on healthy brain development and practices to promote reading at home.

Kernan based his proposal on brain research that shows early learning is vital to children's success, illustrating the importance of solid early foundations. He also sees full-day kindergarten as a vital component of economic development because it provides the future workforce with long-term academic benefits.

Kristie Kauerz, program director with the Education Commission of the States, notes, "This is a major trend. Policymakers are paying more attention to full-day kindergarten, but we're seeing even more attention at the district level." These forward-thinking districts aren't waiting for politicians to fund full-day kindergarten. Instead, they are charging parents, tapping into Title 1 funds and raising taxes, she says.

The Funding Agenda

After the 2006-07 school year, a constitutional amendment could reallocate $500 million in the Common School Fund to pay for 75,00080,000 kindergarten students.

The state constitution requires that this amendment pass two separately elected General Assemblies and voters in the next two years.

Governor Kernan calculates funds for full-day kindergarten could be integrated into the regular school funding formula in 2012.

The General Assembly would need to pass legislation to add funds for full-day kindergarten to the regular school formula to continue the program after 2012.