All Day Kindergarten

[gatormom]

All-day kindergarten nears reality is D204

Naperville Sun
November 13, 2007
By BRITT CARSON Staff writer
Do you want all-day kindergarten in Indian Prairie School District 204?

The future of a new program hung in the balance Monday as administrators presented the school board with a proposal to implement all-day kindergarten in all 21 elementary schools this fall.

The board ultimately tabled the proposal until its next meeting, Nov. 26, as three board members were absent Monday: Chris Vickers, John Stephens and Bruce Glawe.

"This is the most exciting thing we have looked at as a district that has the greatest impact academically on our kids," said Kathy Birkett, deputy superintendent.

A half-day option will still be offered at some locations based on need, Birkett said.

The district launched an all-day kindergarten early intervention pilot program this month at four elementary schools, Gombert, Georgetown, Longwood and McCarty.

Kathy Duncan, assistant superintendent of instructional services, said based on a combination of research and the initial results of the students in the pilot program, many administrators wanted to implement the program districtwide.

"We have seen significant gains in the children that are participating in the current program," Duncan said.

Jenny Giambalvo, former principal at Young Elementary School, will lead the program. The program will require hiring 61 more kindergarten teachers and about $1 million in start-up costs.

Martha Baumann, director of elementary education, said she has talked with each building principal and said there is room to house the additional students and staff.

David Holm, assistant superintendent of business and finance, said the new program costs will be offset by up to a $7 million boost in general state aid since the average daily kindergarten attendance numbers will double this fall.

The program likely will cost a total of about $6 million the first year and $5 million annually.

[wvhsparent]

Sounds like a winner for the SD especially if the State Aid increase will cover the added costs.

[forthekids]

I would say, at least in the case of my children that they definitely are ready for all day kindergarten. Most kids are in preschool from age three. After two years of preschool, they get bored easily and, for my kids anyway, would welcome all day kindergarten. My son was always saying, "What are we going to do all day, Mommy" every time he came home from kindergarten. He was clamoring for more to do so I eventually enrolled him back at his Montessori school for the afternoon sessions there three days a week! It worked out wonderfully.

[Arch]

What's wrong with doing stuff at home one on one with these kids?

[title1parent]

gatormom said:

The district launched an all-day kindergarten early intervention pilot program this month at four elementary schools, Gombert, Georgetown, Longwood and McCarty.

What I have seen these last 2 of 3 years of this pilot program is amazing results with these children with developmental delays.
I would hate to see that all day program go away. This year we have 16 children in the program.

The students from 2 years ago are thriving as 2nd graders this year.

[blankcheck]

Arch- I can't believe this - I actually agree with you - break open the box of wine:) For students who need extra help - fine. Kids need to be kids. Do things at home with your children. Why is everyone in such a rush to push these little ones into a full day of school? They will be in school for a very long time that IMO let them enjoy the extra time with their parents. I hope we are not going down the road of 204 babysitting service.

[Arch]

Any child that gets help (and the right kind of help) is going to improve. That's definitely the plus side of this. From the meeting last night, however, no one seemed to want to even go down the road of even acknowledging or even looking at what might be the downside. People seem to think that an increased student/teacher ratio is actually good for the kids or that will somehow make 'more time for one on one' work. The kids who need the extra help do better when it's more direct and personalized help. How will they specifically get this when it's implemented across the board at every school, regardless if the school currently has room for all day kindergarten or not?

[title1parent]

Arch and BC, I agree. Interesting this year for us, one teacher is designated for the all day early intervention program. She has all 16 in one class. Two years ago, I think we had 12 kindergarteners, and they were split between 2 Kgdn teachers in which the needy kids were mixed in with the other K students. I will watch and see how that plays out this year. Don't know if that will make a difference or not.

[bob]

What usually happens in an increase teacher student ratio is that the average kid suffers. Project Arrow kids lose nothing and the kids needing real help won't either. The kid in the middle of the pack will have to compete with more kids for the teacher's time. They are the ones that will suffer in a ratio increase.

I personally like half day K. My friends are chomping at the bit for all day K.

[blankcheck]

Why?

[Arch]

It was also told to the board that art/music/computers on a cart are better for kids. Someone pulled a statement that if the instructor comes to the class room instead of the class going to a purpose-built room that it somehow is 'better' for the kids.

Let me ask you this: When was the last time you moved your grill into the bathroom to cook a steak? Location doesn't matter, does it? Never mind the room facilities and ability to have more things in inventory that make the arts (and music) better for instruction and learning... they would not even concede that simple fact.

I'm not against a program if it's shown to actually be the noticeable difference, but if they won't even look at the other side of the coin and pull garbage and present it as fact, then there's a serious problem with the WAY it's being done. It sounds like it's more about improving scores on a standardized test and less important about actually enriching a kid's life. Even the older grades (who will suffer from loss and/or change of music/art) were dismissed as being of no concern and 'carting' these programs just automatically makes them better. It was really scary to witness the one sidedness last night.

[Arch]

blankcheck said:

Arch- I can't believe this - I actually agree with you - break open the box of wine:)

Kind of dispels the myth that I support everything the SB or Administration says or does, doesn't it?

[title1parent]

More to read on this subject:

Board considers all-day kindergarten
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 11/13/2007 12:10 AM
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 may offer all-day kindergarten at all of its elementary schools next year.

Administrators are recommending that the district expand its all-day kindergarten pilot program to all students based on research that shows the positive impact of early education. The school board discussed the issue at length Monday but delayed a decision until its Nov. 26 meeting.

Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said he already has seen full-day kindergarten work in his previous districts.

"It's the best thing since sliced bread," Daeschner said. "It's the most powerful educational innovation to advance kids' education other than preschool. There isn't anything that will have a greater effect on kids. It's all about the front end."

Georgetown, Gombert, Longwood and McCarty elementary schools have been testing an all-day program this fall for kindergarten students who are struggling.

These students are monitored regularly, and district officials say they have made great progress, leading to the recommendation to expand the program to all kindergarten students. Half-day programs would still be offered at select locations based on interest.

Kathy Duncan, assistant superintendent for instructional services, said all-day kindergarten allows more time for both academics and developing social skills and will prepare students to hit the ground running when they enter first grade.

"A full-day program in kindergarten allows a lot more child-to-child interaction," she said. "It really does allow the development of some higher progress in social skills. … They will become more independent with their learning, and they'll work much more productively with their peers."

Although the pilot program was geared toward struggling students, the new effort would benefit students of all abilities, officials said.

During a "differentiation block" in the day, students would be evaluated to determine their individual needs. Those who are struggling would receive extra help while others would get enrichment activities.

Running the program, including hiring 61 new teachers, would cost about $5 million a year plus just less than $1 million in start-up costs, according to Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business.

Funding for the program would largely come from the state and is based in part on average daily attendance. The increased number of students attending a full-day program plus additional students attending District 204 schools who would have otherwise gone outside the district is expected to net Indian Prairie about an additional $7 million a year from state sources.

Holm said the district would not receive the additional money until a year after the program begins, causing an initial deficit in operating funds that will be paid back over three years.

The board was originally scheduled to vote on the issue Monday but board member Jeannette Clark expressed concern that there is not enough space in the buildings to accommodate the program without compromising other programs in the schools and asked that administrators compile more information for the board.

Martha Baumann, director of elementary education, said she talked to every one of the principals who assured her they could make space available for the program. Several principals addressed the board and said the benefits of helping students early in their education outweigh the costs of a space crunch.

The board will continue to discuss the issue at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Dr., Aurora.

[Arch]

There is a difference of 'making space' and 'best utilized space'.

We could 'make space' for 35/40 kids per classroom, but is that any better than utilizing the space for 20 kids?

[bob]

blankcheck said:

Why?

More kids competeing for teacher's time = someone is going to get the short end of the stick. IMO, it is the kids in the middle of the pack who suffer the most in this situation.