Hanover Plans Free Full-Day Kindergarten As a Budget Strategy

School officials unveiled a plan last week to eliminate tuition for full-day kindergarten starting in 2026, positioning Hanover to join the vast majority of Massachusetts communities that offer the program at no cost to families.

During a joint meeting with the Select Board, school administrators proposed using special education reserve funds to bridge the one-year gap needed to implement free full-day kindergarten, with increased state Chapter 70 funding expected to sustain the program thereafter.

"We believe that transitioning from a fee-based or tuition-based full day kindergarten model to a free full day kindergarten model is long overdue," said Michael Oates, Director of Finance for Hanover Public Schools.

Currently, Hanover families pay $3,700 annually for full-day kindergarten. The district is one of only 11 communities in Massachusetts still charging tuition for the program, according to School Committee member Rachel Hughes.

The proposed funding strategy would use approximately $400,000 from the district's $750,000 special education reserve fund to cover the initial implementation costs. School officials project the investment would generate at least $500,000 in additional annual Chapter 70 state aid beginning in fiscal year 2027.

"If we invest $400,000 in FY 26, we're going to get back hundred thousand in FY 27 and 28 and 29 and 30 and forever," explained Superintendent Matthew Ferron. "Once we raise that number as our base for chapter 70, it stays there and goes up from there."

The increase in state funding would occur because full-day kindergarten students are counted differently in the Chapter 70 formula. Currently, tuition-paying kindergarteners only count as half-day students, worth about $5,000 each in the district's foundation budget calculation. As full-day students, they would count for approximately $10,000 each.

"By covering the cost of kindergarten ourselves, instead of requiring parents to pay the tuition, we not only recover this expense but also would generate additional funding," Oates explained.

School Committee Chair Peter Miraglia characterized the proposal as a "unique opportunity" that would require only a "one-time deal" to implement. "All we need is a bridge for one year to cover this, and then chapter 70 will come in the next, the following year," he said.

Several Select Board members expressed support for the concept while raising questions about the funding mechanism. Board member Steve Louko noted he had "no problem" examining the proposal but cautioned there "may not be a lot of surplus funding in other departments to move around."

Vice Chair Rhonda Nyman questioned the timing of the initiative given other budget pressures facing the town. "Certainly we should have full free day kindergarten, other communities have it, but other communities aren't looking at an override that we're looking at right now," she said.

Superintendent Ferron acknowledged the concerns but emphasized the long-term benefits of making the investment now. "If we invest a dollar to get a dollar 25 going forward indefinitely... it's worth the conversation and the risk right now," he said.

The proposal requires approval from both the School Committee and Select Board to reallocate the special education reserve funds. Officials indicated they hope to make a decision soon to provide certainty for families registering kindergarteners for the 2025-26 school year.

"We're kind of in a holding pattern about charging tuition until this is resolved," Ferron said. "We're not guaranteeing anybody anything, but we want our families to know that this is something that's under consideration."