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NIAGARA, WI -- The four-year-old kindergarten program has been in the works for nearly a decade in Niagara, and this year it is finally a reality.

"Schools throughout Wisconsin carry a 4-K program, and I think it will be the trend,” said Niagara K-12 Principal Kip Beaudoin.  “We are continuing to expand to address the needs of families."

This type of program is becoming more and more popular nationwide as parents look to make their kids better prepared for school.

Amanda Perry teaches four-year-old kindergartens at Niagara and said the program is very beneficial for students, even at a young age.

"The kids that are in a program like this tend to have better fine motor skills, they learn their letters and their numbers faster, and it helps them to get a heads up on kindergarten," said Perry.

But the new initiative is being implemented at a difficult time.  Wisconsin schools had their state funding cut by $500 per student this school year.

Some have questioned adding a new program to the school despite cuts to schools statewide.  But Beaudoin said this could potentially be a long-term advantage for Niagara.

"For a district like ours, I think it's indispensable,” he said.  “The biggest thing that districts of our size struggle with is retention of the students.  Students who generally start in a district will graduate from a district."

So far 32 students are enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten, and Beaudoin expects that number to continue growing.