(Orig Post 8-15-2006) Mailbag: Jennifer Petruzello writes: Will 4K Kindergarten save Parents Money?

Will parents save money if 4-year old kindergarten (4K) was implemented? For the majority of families, the answer is a simple “NO”. It is my opinion that this is perhaps the greatest misunderstanding among parents who use full-time day care or preschool programs.

Consider the current recommendation before the Evansville School Board. This proposal states that “4K would be structured as a half day program either four mornings or afternoons per week with the fifth day given over to professional development” (Typically 8:00-11:00 or 12:00-3:00).

A majority of families using daycare, need this care for an average of 10 hours per day five days per week. If 4K was offered at their daycare site, care would still be needed for 7 hours, including some time before or after the 4K program. The State of Wisconsin regulates the staffing ratio for licensed daycare centers and preschools. To recover staffing costs, centers may not be able to offer a discounted rate because they will need to have teachers available to cover the greatest number of children during the day. For daycare centers who currently offer a ½ time or discounted rate, 4-year old kindergarteners would likely not meet the criteria.

One of the 4K Investigative Committee’s three basic premises and recommendation is that: “Four year old kindergarten cannot be the cause of childcare businesses closing”. Thus, the committee was interested in this when visiting other communities. Notes from a visit to Waterloo state “The new 4K does not seem to have affected the daycare or preschools since none have closed their doors and the reported income levels are about the same as previously” (emphasis added). Notes from a visit to Portage note “Full day childcare costs are still charged to families of 4K students”.

Parents who use daycare only on a part-time basis, and who will be able to adjust their schedule to match that of the proposed 4K program, as well as those currently enrolling their child in private part-time preschool programs, would save on their own personal daycare and preschool cost.

Of course everyone would still have a tax impact because of the proposal. While this may not be as visible as writing a monthly or weekly check, the program would be supported roughly 2/3 through State of Wisconsin taxes, and 1/3 through local property taxes. The increased student enrollment through 4K would allow the school district to raise additional revenue through the property tax.

So, if you are thinking that the reason to implement a 4K program is that it will save money, you should talk with your current childcare and preschool provider to learn more about how the proposal will impact your particular situation.