CHICOPEE – When Gov. Charlie Baker proposed a cut to the state budget that would have cost Chicopee Public Schools more than $300,000 for its full-day kindergarten, the district was prepared to make sacrifices to keep the program.

“We would have made cuts elsewhere,” Superintendent Richard Rege Jr. “This program is just too important to us. We never would have given this up.”

While the cut was ultimately vetoed, Rege used the situation as an example of how valuable the district and the community view free full-day kindergarten to the educational and social development of their children during state Sen. Eric Lesser’s recent tour of the new Fairview Veterans Memorial Elementary School.

Lesser, who called himself an “enthusiastic supporter” of universal kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs, is a co-sponsor of An Act for Universal Early Education and Full-Day Kindergarten, which would mandate fully funded kindergarten and voluntary pre-kindergarten programs throughout the state.

“I think we have a ways to go to get there in this state, but I think that needs to be our North Star,” he said. “Frankly, the world has gotten so competitive and our economy has become so focused on education that if we don’t make those investments early, it’s going to cost us quite a lot down the line.”

His hometown of Longmeadow is the only community in Western Massachusetts that does not offer tuition-free full-day kindergarten. The town does offer full-day kindergarten with tuition of $2,750 per year.

“What we’re talking about is a quality of access to kindergarten. I don’t think that anyone could doubt the benefits of a child being in a kindergarten program. If a parent decides to supplement it or do something else, of course that’s their decision, but my role as a legislator and a public official is to make sure any child and any family that wants access or needs access to early childhood education has it,” he said. “What isn’t fair is a situation where some people are able to have it and others aren’t. Every person has the right to live out the full measure of their potential.”

According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 148 students enrolled in either full-day or half-day kindergarten programs in Longmeadow for the 2014-15 school year; 134 participated in the full-day program.

Of the 134, 127 were tuitioned, while seven received free access to kindergarten due to documented special education needs, Superintendent Marie Doyle explained. Some families of those who paid tuition also received some level of financial assistance.

After the citizens group Residents for Equality in Kindergarten Education in Longmeadow twice failed at Town Meeting to have additional funds appropriated to fund a free full-day program, the School Committee has made the issue a priority.

Rege explained to Lesser the cost of the full-day program in his district is approximately $9,000 to $10,000 per pupil, which is funded entirely through Chapter 70 money from the state.

Longmeadow School Committee Chair Janet Robinson recently said a fully funded program would require an additional fiscal year 2017 appropriation of $374,742.

Arguments against full-day kindergarten in Longmeadow at Town Meetings included the assertion that previous generations have flourished without it.

Fairview Principal Irene Lemieux and Rege explained the expectations for kindergarten students are much higher than they were in the past with educational mandates such as Common Core State Standards and full-day programs are necessary to meet the demand.

“I think people lack an understanding of what is expected. Back when we were in kindergarten, the majority of it was play, but now, there is a structured curriculum,” Rege said.

“They need the consistency to be able to establish a routine schedule. For them to come in and out as fast as they would for a half day, there’s not really much you can do beyond getting all the mandates you have to get in,” Lemieux noted. “Having a full day, you have the time to meet the mandates and also get to address the educational needs of the students.”