Chicago schools expand full-day kindergarten

CHICAGO (AP) — All incoming Chicago Public Schools students will have access to full-day kindergarten for the first time beginning next year.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced the $15 million expansion on Monday.

Emanuel says every child deserves a high-quality education. He says they can't get it if they are behind their peers when they enter first grade.

Emanuel and Byrd-Bennett say the $15 million will come from budget cuts at Chicago Public School's central office.

CPS has added 6,000 additional full-day kindergarten seats in the past year, bringing the total available to 26,500.

With the additional funds, each of the approximately 30,700 students entering school each year will have access.