Get all facts on all-day kindergarten

I am a parent of a child who will enter kindergarten in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 in the fall of 2009.

I have become aware that District 204 will be starting a full-day kindergarten program in 2008 for the entire district. I know that the district will still offer half-day kindergarten but it might not reside in your child's home school.

These are the facts.

District 204 has been supplying research to the parents of District 204 that states that ALL children benefit from full-day kindergarten. I feel the district is only showing research that supports their extension of the kindergarten day.

Why has Dist. 204 not made the public aware of the newest RAND study that shows that "typical" children who attend full-day kindergarten don't benefit 100 percent like Dist. 204 would like you to believe?

The RAND study found that children who attended full-day kindergarten, by the time they are in fifth grade have shown that full-day kindergarten may actually be detrimental to mathematics performance and nonacademic readiness skills.

I challenge all parents in District 204 to do their own research about full-day kindergarten and that they individually make the best decision for their own child.

I encourage all parents to Google "Rand Study Full Day Kindergarten" or just Google "Full Day Kindergarten Research" to be informed before you make you decision to send your child to a full day kindergarten program in District 204.

Thanks.

Cathy Diesman

Naperville