Parents want all-day kindergarten at Grayslake District 46
Citing moves at neighboring school systems, some parents say a full-day kindergarten program should be started at Grayslake Elementary District 46.
Parents pitched the idea during public comment time at a District 46 board meeting this week. Among the speakers was parent Jamie Taylor.
Taylor said District 46 children deserve the benefits of a full-day kindergarten education, such as improved academic, social and emotional development.
"This is something that needs to take place and needs to have action taken very much in the near future," Taylor told the elected officials.
She alluded to all-day kindergarten programs already launched or planned for the 2015-16 academic seasons at school systems bordering District 46.
Round Lake Area Unit District 116 now has a full-day kindergarten at the former Pleviak Elementary School in Lake Villa. Officials said the move from space-crunched facilities to Pleviak will allowed kindergartners to receive art and music classes, as well as access to a computer room, library, and a reading and writing laboratory.
Gurnee-based Woodland Elementary District 50 will offer full-day kindergarten in the 2015-16 academic year, with officials citing support for the program in a community survey. No special fee will be charged for the all-day kindergarten, which is expected to provide additional instruction in social studies, science, reading and writing.
At Woodland, members of a committee that studied full-day kindergarten made a presentation to the school board before the program was approved. Board members were told research has found children who spend all day in kindergarten scored higher on standardized tests and had more grade level promotions.
More and more school districts are offering full-day kindergarten. About 76 percent of kindergarten students statewide now are in class all day, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.