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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Shoreline feels a kindergarten growth spurt

By Tony Dondero
Enterprise reporter

A mini baby boom means kindergarten enrollment is up in the Shoreline School District, although overall enrollment is expected to drop by 200 students.

The last several years the district only had one all-day and one half-day program in each of its elementary schools.

So far, 54 more students are registered in all-day kindergarten and 48 in half-day kindergarten, bringing the total to nearly 500, district spokesman Craig Degginger said.

Syre and Brookside elementary schools will each add one all-day kindergarten section, Echo Lake Elementary School will add another half-day program, and one more half-day class will be added elsewhere.

"It's always fun to have more kids," said Kathryn Noble, who is in her fourth year as principal at Brookside. Her school had two all-day kindergarten classes when she arrived but only one section the last two years.

Kindergarten classes are limited to 23 students.

The district made the effort to get the word out and encouraged parents to register early because it helps the district plan classes, Degginger said.

The cost to parents for all-day kindergarten is $3,100 while half-day programs are free.

The state currently funds only half-day kindergarten programs. Lawmakers approved a new definition of basic education that adds all-day kindergarten, but the legislation did not identify where the added money will come from to fund that and other programs. The law requires the changes and funding to be in place by 2018.

Many parents sign up for all-day kindergarten as an alternative to child care,

"We're certainly an attractive school district," Degginger said.

He pointed to 700 boundary exceptions to illustrate his point. The exceptions are granted to students who do not live within district boundaries but attend Shoreline schools.

Degginger added that the bad economy and high home prices in Seattle are also reasons why people are coming to Shoreline.

Enrollment is ongoing. For more information on kindergarten registration, call 206-361-4412 or visit www.shorelineschools.org/enrollment. Children generally must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 to enroll in kindergarten.