(WSBT) Full-day kindergarten is finally a reality for more students and teachers across the state. PHM is one local school district starting the program this year. More than 100 parents put their kids' names in a lottery, and 80 of them were randomly selected.

But there's a lot more to full-day kindergarten than lunch and a longer day. When they get off the bus at Madison Elementary, the smiling faces of full-day kindergartners walk into a whole new world.

When asked what he's going to do at kindergarten, Marcus Housing said he would play.

Noah Hurlbut said he's going to learn about his teacher.

Those students are also learning life skills: how to line up, wash their hands and how to use the restroom properly.

But the best part for teachers like Melissa Phelps is expanding the curriculum over a whole day, rather than trying to cram everything into a few hours of half-day kindergarten.

"I feel like we were just trying to push things on the kids, not really have enough time to teach what they needed to know," Phelps told WSBT.

Parents agree.

"We know it's the best thing for them," said Shere Radabaugh. "It prepares them for school on down the road. They're always gonna be in full-day after this."

From gym class to the coat room, full-day kindergartners at Madison Elementary are hitting the ground running.

Teachers see the change as a positive challenge. Melissa Phelps says getting students in a routine is the first goal, and one of the hardest things to do.

Parents are pushing their kids to get ahead. Shere Radabaugh says she feels lucky that her daughter was selected.

The kids are learning what full-day kindergarten is all about.

The state is reimbursing PHM $665 per student. After that money is figured in with other daily amounts, full-day kindergarten is costing taxpayers $47,000 this year. The district hopes to add more full-day kindergarten classes in the future. Their half-day kindergarten enrollment for the 2006-2007 school year was 716 students.