Board considers all-day kindergarten

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.