Some schools may need to add space for all-day kindergarten - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

David MacAnally / Eyewitness News

INDIANAPOLIS - For kindergarten-age students in Indiana, one in four has no access to full day kindergarten.

"Half day kindergarten just doesn't give the child the opportunity to get the full spectrum of school" says Christen Adam, a Hamilton County mom.

The Governor's announcement will be good news to parents like her.  Governor Daniels says it's "to complete the extension of full day kindergarten to every school district in the state.

The Governor wants the legislature to OK $100 millions for all-day kindergarten next year.

Dr. Brian Smith, Hamilton Southeastern Schools superintendent,  says "The research is clear, full-day kindergarten can have a significant impact on students."

Hamilton Southeastern is one of the state's fastest growing districts.  It offers mostly half-day K now.  But elementary buildings do have one full day class paid for, in part, by the school district and YMCA, through parent fees.

Dr. Smith wants more details. The first problem he sees with the plan is not enough classroom space to handle all those potential full-day kindergarten students. 

"It would be more difficult for us to implement than for most districts that have had declining enrollment. They've got plenty of space. We have to wrestle with the problem of finding more space on pretty quick notice", said Smith.