CONCORD, NH – Cities and towns across the state will be receiving close to $11 million in additional aid to assist paying for students to attend full-day kindergarten, according to the latest estimates from the New Hampshire Department of Education. The full-day K grant list [see below] was released on Oct. 1, 2018, and shows school districts and charter schools in 253 communities receiving $1,100 more per student this year ($10,728,603.71). The figures are based on 9,753 students enrolled in kindergarten the previous school year.
The full-day K bill, SB 191-FN, nicknamed “Keno-garten,” since revenue from the Keno 603 game from the New Hampshire Lottery is a funding source, was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu in August 2017.
“As promised when I signed this bill into law last year, we are making the investments needed to help children build a strong educational foundation for the future,” he said. “I’m proud of this effort and thrilled that funds will soon be sent to school districts that have expanded kindergarten programs.”
Keno 603 was unveiled as a new game by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission in December 2017. Sales have totaled nearly $11.7 million through the end of August with $2.1 million being sent to the Education Trust Fund, according to lottery officials.
“This funding will help communities in our state offset the cost of expanded kindergarten programs,” said Caitlin Davis, the director of Division of Education Analytics & Resources.
According to the estimates, the city of Manchester will receive the most additional kindergarten aid – $1.1 million – with Nashua receiving more than $830,000 and Concord, which adopted full-day K in March, receiving about $322,000.
Earlier this year, HB 1499, a bill expanding play-based education in kindergarten, was approved and signed into law. The new standards were implemented for the new school year.
