The goal then became improving the quality of the care and moving all the children into full-day programs, she said.

"When you compare them to the more intensive full-day programs, they don't work as well," he said.

Some are full-day programs designed to accommodate working parents.

It includes a kindergarten center opened last year offering a full-day program.

The state pays about $4,000 per 4-year-old, which isn't enough for a full-day program.

Some districts are eager to go to full-day programs, but say there is not enough money or space.

"In a full-day program, there's more of a balance," she said.

But some full-day programs are all about getting kids ready for first grade.

Some districts that already had full-day programs expanded them this year.

Of 536 districts that offered kindergarten, 211 provided full-day programs for at least some pupils, she said.