Full-day kindergarten was once widely accessible across Arizona, but devastating cuts during the Great Recession left families forced to pay out-of-pocket or settle for half-day programs. Despite strong research on the benefits of early learning, the state has failed to restore this foundational investment in our youngest learners.

Brett’s plan to restore full-day kindergarten reclaims what was lost and ensures every Arizona child, regardless of ZIP code, gets a strong start to their education:

Guarantee Universal Access and Stable Funding: Arizona eliminated state funding for full‑day kindergarten during the Great Recession. Today, districts can charge tuition for half of the day and many families must pay fees because the state does not cover full‑day programs.

• Brett Newby will work with lawmakers to embed full‑day kindergarten funding into the state’s base education formula. This change would make full‑day programs tuition‑free statewide, ensuring that all children, urban, rural, low‑income, or wealthy, have access.

• New funding should be weighted to support high‑poverty districts and those serving Indigenous and remote communities, so resources flow where they are most needed.

Invest in Early‑Learning Infrastructure and Workforce: Years of disinvestment in early learning mean many districts lack facilities and trained staff to operate full‑day programs.

• Brett will seek capital investments to build or renovate kindergarten classrooms, particularly in underserved areas.

• He will partner with First Things First and community colleges to train more early‑childhood educators and provide stipends for existing teachers to earn early‑learning certifications.

• He will also expand professional development for kindergarten teachers to align instruction with developmental milestones and Arizona’s academic standards.

Build a Continuum from Pre‑K to Third Grade: Research shows that full‑day kindergarten improves reading and math outcomes, especially for children who didn’t attend preschool. Brett’s plan integrates full‑day kindergarten into a broader early‑learning pipeline.

• He will advocate for state grants that support public‑school partnerships with community preschools and childcare providers, creating seamless transitions from birth to third grade.

• Emphasis will be placed on early literacy, family engagement, and wrap‑around services such as health screenings and after‑school care, ensuring that kindergarten readiness flows into sustained academic success.