Across Idaho, a historic number of schools are now providing full-day kindergarten, with increasing momentum to broaden access to preschool education.
This school year, nearly 90% of Idaho’s traditional school districts offer full-day kindergarten, up from 75% in the 2021-22 school year. This shift follows a significant boost in state funding for early literacy.
Efforts to enhance preschool access are also on the rise. Although most districts provide developmental preschool for students with disabilities, it remains unclear how many offer preschool to the general population, as this data is not reported to the state. Recent grant distributions, however, highlight growing interest in expanding early childhood education.
The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health recently awarded grants of approximately $50,000 each to 11 districts to support the initiation or expansion of early childhood education programs. Additionally, 24 districts expressed interest in growing their early education programs and participated in a webinar series designed to assist school leaders. The level of interest surpassed the expectations of Jackie Yarbrough, senior program officer at the foundation.
“This interest demonstrates that Idahoans value early education and want it available in their communities,” Yarbrough said. “Discussions with school administrators revealed a clear need for funding to start or expand preschool programs.”
The push for early education is particularly notable in Idaho, where kindergarten attendance is not mandatory, pre-K education lacks state funding, and early learning has occasionally been contentious. For instance, in 2021, legislators rejected $18 million in federal funding for early childhood education.
Expansion of Full-Day Kindergarten
More districts and charter schools than ever are now offering full-day kindergarten. Although kindergarten remains optional and the state only funds half-day programs, many districts have used additional early literacy funding to support full-day programs.
Currently, over 100 traditional school districts—nearly 90%—provide full-day kindergarten. Before the increase in early literacy funding, only 87 districts offered this option. This school year, 12 traditional districts are not offering full-day kindergarten, mostly in small, rural areas such as Swan Valley Elementary and Grace.
Among the 57 charter schools and non-traditional districts with elementary education, 48 offer full-day kindergarten, representing about 83%. Nine charter schools do not offer this option, including Victory Charter and Idaho Virtual Academy.
The Importance of Early Childhood Education
Advocates stress that kindergarten and preschool play a crucial role in a child’s long-term development. From birth to age 5, children establish the cognitive and behavioral foundations for their future learning.
“Education and health outcomes are closely linked, and academic success often leads to better health outcomes,” Yarbrough noted.
Jared Jenks, superintendent of Sugar-Salem School District, emphasized the benefits of early education. “Providing educational opportunities at younger ages helps students be better prepared for kindergarten and future education,” he said.
Sugar-Salem received a $50,000 grant from the Blue Cross Foundation, which will enhance its preschool program in collaboration with Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg.
Castleford School District, led by Principal Chuck Day and Superintendent Dena Allred, also received a grant. Castleford has offered full-day kindergarten for over 20 years and is now expanding its preschool program to include a half-day option for 3-year-olds.
“That’s where it all begins; you need an early literacy foundation,” Day said. “Without phonemic awareness by the end of first grade, students face greater challenges with reading later on.”
Castleford’s early learning programs have contributed to students outperforming state averages on the Idaho Reading Indicator and showing continuous improvement. Day and Allred attribute this success to community support, dedicated teachers, and effective student support systems.