Coupeville Schools plan to offer full-time kindergarten next school year.

Superintendent Jim Shank said the district had been looking at how it could fund full-day kindergarten on its own without waiting on the state.

Currently, state legislators are funding some full-day programs, but priority funding goes to schools that have a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students.

“At the rate they’re going, who knows when we’d be able to get that done,” Shank said.

So starting next year, the district will use some of its Learning Assistance Program, or LAP, funds to help bring two full-time classes to Coupeville.

LAP programs serve eligible students who need academic support for reading, writing and math, or who need readiness skills to learn these core subjects, according to the state superintendent’s office. With special emphasis on reading literacy in the early grades, schools use their state LAP funds to deliver supplemental services that give these students the strong start they need for academic success.

Shank said using the LAP funds fit into its approved uses because the district is not required to provide full-time kindergarten.

Currently, the district offers three half-day sections which serve about 47 students, Shank said. The district has 1.5 teacher positions dedicated for kindergarten.

Kim McWilliams, who’s in her 11th year teaching kindergarten, said she is excited about the change to full-time classes.

“It’s hard now because it’s just not consistent,” she said. “With full day they know their routine better, they get more instruction.”

McWilliams said teaching kindergarten has changed a lot since she first started.

“With all the standards it’s very different than when I started,” she said. “I’m basically teaching a first grade curriculum.

“We do a lot of word expression with the kids. It’s more of a phonetic program. They’re starting to read pretty well.”

The funding will cover an additional half teacher position needed to offer the two full-time classes.

But Shank said the district hopes to attract additional students with the change.

And if more students are enrolled, the school has room to expand to three classes.

A kindergarten information night will be held 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, May 21 in the elementary school library.

Pre-registration for the 2015-16 school year will begin Monday, April 21.

For more information, call Joyce Roethle at 360-678-2474.