Kaneland may add extended-day kindergarten districtwide

The Kaneland school board today will consider testing extended-day kindergarten next school year.

The program would be offered, in one section, at all four elementary schools in District 302. The minimum enrollment would be 16, and the maximum 24, according to Sarah Mumm, the district’s director of educational services for kindergarten through fifth grade. Mumm said administrators have researched the idea the past few years, but there wasn’t room at all the grade schools to implement it. However, it looks like kindergarten enrollment has declined enough for next year, based on March signups, to allow it, she said. Traditionally, nearly 80 percent of kindergartners are registered during the March drive.

If the board approves the test, registration for the extended-day program would take place May 1 to June 6.

Students would be charged $250 tuition per month, though those eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches would pay less.

Mumm said the afternoon sessions would use play- and theme-based experiential instruction and would not cover the core, academic-based curriculum required in the morning. The same instructors would teach both classes.

If the number of students signed up at a school exceeds the maximum, the district would conduct a lottery to see who gets in. If not enough students sign up, that section would be canceled. The district intends to have the tuition cover salary and material costs, Mumm said.

There will be a parent information meeting about the program at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Harter Middle School, 1601 Esker Drive, Sugar Grove.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. today at the Milnamow Administrative Center, Keslinger and Meredith roads, Maple Park.