Hinsdale D181 Plans Full-Day Kindergarten

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale School District 181 board decided this week to go into debt to make full-day kindergarten a reality.

The district plans to borrow an estimated $26.4 million to build classrooms, with full-day kindergarten starting in the 2025-26 year.

In August, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a requirement that each school board establish full-day kindergarten by the 2027-28 year.

District 181 said it had already been contemplating such a move before the state enacted the law.

According to the district, the debt payments would come from its regular income.

All the money would go toward new kindergarten classrooms, except $1.1 million for a general renovation of Oak Elementary School, the district said.

The total amount of borrowing, the district said, would be finalized once the board approves bids. Bids are set to be opened next month.