Why full day kindergarten?
Plain and simple, research shows that the majority of children benefit academically and socially during the primary years from participation in full day, compared to half-day, kindergarten programs (Cryan et al., 1992). Cryan et al. found that full-day kindergartens exhibited more independent learning, classroom involvement, productivity in work with peers, and reflectiveness than half-day kindergartners. They were also more likely to approach the teacher and they expressed less withdrawal, anger, shyness, and blaming behavior than half-day kindergartners. Similar results have been found in many other studies including Holmes and McConnell, 1990 and Karweit, 1992.
The effectiveness of full-day kindergarten programs will naturally, with more time in the day, have less hectic instruction and more comprehensive assessment of student progress, both academically and social-emotionally. In numbers, students who participate in full day kindergarten receive over 40,000 more minutes or 667 more hours of school than half- day kindergartners. Those 667 hours include more structured and unstructured interaction with their peers, more quality instruction in core subjects, more exposure to the arts, and more independence.
I want to emphasize, though the length of the school day is an important dimension of the kindergarten experience, the nature of the curriculum and the quality of instruction are also very vital issues. Our goal is to create a better quality kindergarten program that can only come with more time in the day. This will make our district more competitive within its county, it will make our communities more attractive for new home buyers, and most of all it will improve our chances of developing competent and fluent readers ready for first grade. Schools have to meet the changes in society. The increase in single parent and dual employment households, and the fact that most children spend the majority of the day away from home, dramatically reduce the time parents have to read and write with their kids.
“It’s absolutely absurd that kindergarten is half-day in
any district at this point,” says Lesley Mandel Morrow, an education professor,
member of the NJ State Board of Education and renowned literacy expert at
What’s the cost?
Please see attached breakdown
How is the state of NJ supporting full day kindergarten?
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Governor Corzine has included $26 million to
assist districts that are currently providing full-day kindergarten. In
so doing, the Governor recognizes that districts that have paid their own way
to expand to full day kindergarten deserve and need additional support from the
state to provide this educational benefit to students and their families.
The longer-term goal will be to increase the number of full-day kindergarten
programs over time.
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The additional funding for full-day
kindergarten will be distributed according to community wealth. Based on
this method, 185 districts will see increases in state aid for full-day
kindergarten in fiscal 2008.
How many districts in
About 50% of districts in
Where will the kindergarten classes be housed? Why?
The district held an informational session (Full Day Kindergarten) on March 13th in the GMMS Dining Hall (7:00 pm). As a result, we will be sending out a parent survey for Independence Twp. residents with children in Preschool-Grade 4. The survey will be an integral part of the decision making process concerning the placement of the Independence Twp. Full Day Kindergarten program. The district will disseminate this information and make a final determination of placement on or before April 1st.
How will full day kindergarten effect busing?
None
What if the voters say “no” to full time kindergarten?
If full day kindergarten does not pass the district will
investigate returning to the extended day schedule developed and facilitated in
2005-6. Tentatively for 2008-9 we are looking at: AM session: 9:10-12:15 and PM session 12:15 –
3:25