Full-Day Kindergarten To Be Free In Andover Starting Next Year

ANDOVER, MA — Beginning next school year, full-day kindergarten will be free in Andover, after the school committee approved the change Thursday night. In a letter to the community, Community Chair Joel Blumstein said the change will come at no cost to Andover taxpayers. After three years of tuition decreases, the district had reached a point where the lost revenue from tuition would be offset by increased state subsidies from Chapter 70.

Because Chapter 70 funding is based on previous year metrics, there will be a gap year between the tuition disappearing and the funding increase. The gap year will be covered by money in the full-day kindergarten revolving account, according to the district plan. Currently, the district only offers free half-day kindergarten, and charges $3,575 for full-day kindergarten.

The committee vote came after discussions over the last few months with the select board and the finance committee. In his letter, Blumstein explained that almost all Andover kindergarten students already participate in full-day kindergarten.

"This year, Andover is among a relatively small number of Massachusetts communities that charge for full-day kindergarten," he wrote. "Participation rate in Andover FDK has risen to approximately 93% of our kindergarten students, and less than 25 students across the district are enrolled in half-day kindergarten for the current 2019/20 school year."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.