4K – Here to Stay?

Taken from the Executive Summary Assessing the Value of 4K in Wisconsin: A Study of 4K Community Approach Districts (2005-06).

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Wisconsin school districts that offer free, universal pre-kindergarten for 4-year-old children (4K), documented by a recent study of 4K conducted by the Wisconsin Child Care Research Partnership, as a partner in the Early Education Matters (EEM) two-year project. In 2003-04, 180 districts offered 4K (out of 416, or 43%). In 2004-05, that number rose to 190 districts, and in 2005-06, it rose to 198 districts, or 48% of all elementary districts.

Growth was also found among the “community approach” districts, which contract with community-based child care or Head Start programs to collaboratively offer 4K. In 2003-04, there were 13 community approach districts, in 2004-05, there were 18 (a 38% increase), and in 2005-06, there were 33 districts (a 61% increase in districts). There has also been a large increase in the number of sites in which 4K is collaboratively offered: from 51 sites in 2003-04, to 78 sites in 2004-05, to 143 sites in 2005-06 (an increase of 64% in the two years of this project).

For the entire text of this report and other very useful information about 4K and collaboration efforts, please browse to  http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/wccrp/matters.html.