The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will conduct a hearing on Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m., in Madison, to take public testimony on emergency and proposed permanent rules related to grants for four-year-old kindergarten.

The proposed rules describe application criteria and procedures for awarding $3 million annually in 4K grants. The new grant program was established as part of the 2007-09 budget to encourage more school districts to develop four-year-old kindergarten programs for their students. Priority will be given to districts that adopt a community approach for providing 4K services that includes a council or advisory group and contracts with a Head Start, licensed group-based childcare, or preschool center.