Full-day kindergarten grows with funds

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The number of Indiana children enrolled in full-day kindergarten has increased by 19 percent since the state more than doubled spending for the program.

The General Assembly increased funding from about $82 million to nearly $190 million for the 2012-2013 school year. In the last school year, 66,401 students were enrolled; this year, the number swelled to 79,110.

Schools that offer full-day kindergarten will receive the funding later this week.

The measure signed in March by Gov. Mitch Daniels bars school districts that obtain kindergarten grants from charging parents for the program. The Indiana Department of Education says all of the 290 public school districts that offer full day kindergarten have agreed not to charge tuition.

The grant program began in 2005, when it distributed $8.5 million to 10,247 students.