All-day kindergarten: Why it is vital for our schools

Message from Dr. David Schauer, Superintendent of Kyrene Elementary Schools

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It’s Not Your Dad’s Kindergarten

School districts in Arizona have recently had to make difficult choices due to funding reductions from the state legislature.

In the early 2000s, Arizona committed to a phased-in program for a full day kindergarten program and began providing additional funding to make this happen. In 2007, the first year of complete full day funding for all school districts was implemented.

The rationale for this was based on the fact that curriculum standards and expectations for learning have increased significantly in recent years. It was felt that, in order to give students the foundation they need to experience success in school, a full day program should be a priority.

As the economy worsened and Arizona’s budget deficit grew, the state understandably had to make some tough decisions in order to balance the budget.

Since full day kindergarten was one of the most recent additions to educational funding, it became an easy target. The perception of some people is that the funding of this program is “optional” and that young children do not necessarily need to have the kindergarten experience for a full day.

Those on the flip side, however, feel that without this type of preparation, many students will not have the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the primary grades.

What is the real truth?

Just as with any difference of opinion, one can find evidence to support a preferred point of view. I would suspect that there is no definitive answer to this, but we do know that students who learn to read and are at grade level in the primary grades are more likely to be successful in school.

It seems logical that a full day of kindergarten would help increase the likelihood of this happening. However, a new law, HB 2732, calls for retention of third-grade students who fall far below in reading. At the same time, significant state support has been withdrawn, requiring school districts to make decisions on how to provide the dollars needed to replace those that have been eliminated.

This is particularly difficult during challenging budgetary times, but if we truly believe that we make decisions based on what is best for children, the answer is obvious.

Full day kindergarten must be a top priority. Funding needs to be provided while we advocate that the state legislature reevaluate its position as soon as possible.

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