Georgetown ISD reinstated full-day prekindergarten at five of its elementary schools for the 2016-17 school year, which began Aug. 23.

The GISD board of trustees voted to reinstate full-day pre-K for the current school year on March 21 after several months of discussion.

The board opted to reduce pre-K to a half-day program in the 2012-13 school year after the Texas Legislature cut $5.4 billion from public schools in 2011 and GISD experienced a $4.8 million budget shortfall going into the 2011-12 school year, according to the district.

Shortly after the vote to reinstate full-day pre-K GISD, received the High Quality Pre-K grant that requires districts to maintain certain standards. The grant, made possible by House Bill 4, will award $205,000 over the next two years and help with staffing and funding. The FY 2016-17 budget also set aside money to fund full-day pre-K.

GISD spokesperson Suzanne Marchman said the benefits of full-day pre-K include increased readiness for kindergarten, cognitive development and academic gains.

“You are talking about not only academic skills but social skills, too,” Marchman said. “It is both that get covered in pre-K.”

Previously the district had seen a significant drop in pre-K enrollment numbers, Marchman said. In 2015-16, when GISD was still offering half-day schooling, 309 students were enrolled. Marchman said with full-day options the district is expecting about 600 students by the end of the year.

Marchman attributed the drop in numbers to the stress it put on parents trying to find transportation and childcare options when students were only in school for half the day.

GISD does not currently offer tuition-based pre-K, so only students who meet required criteria are eligible for the no-cost program.

Marchman said the board is confident with its decision to reinstate the program.

“The academic benefits of full-day prekindergarten are just enormous,” Marchman said. “It is just more sound to have [the students] for the whole day.”