The Richmond Elementary School (RES) Board has recently been exploring the possibility of expanding the current kindergarten offering.

Currently, the RES kindergarten consists of one full day (Six and ½ hours) three, four-hour days, and one day off. After two public hearings addressing the ”full-day K” issue in September and October, the Board unanimously voted to approve full day kindergarten, with a half-day option, for the 2005-2006 school year. In fact, the RES School Board has considered full day kindergarten for several years and the current schedule was implemented in the school year 2004 - 2005. The RES Board has found that although the current schedule has increased time for students in school, it has not significantly increased time spent with primary classroom teachers.

It would have been easy for the RES Board to just “jump on the bandwagon” and follow in the footsteps of the ever increasing number of schools nation wide ( including Chittenden East Supervisory Union schools Underhill ID and Jericho Elementary) in adopting full day kindergarten. As of 2001, 60 % of students nationwide spend between five and six hours everyday in the classroom (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). But as dear old Dad used to say “If so and so were to jump off a bridge would you?”. Well, no I would not - at least not before I checked how deep the water was. The board has looked closely at the pros and cons of full day kindergarten. Perhaps the primary reason the Board has the responsibility to adopt full day K is that the current four day model does not and cannot support the Chittenden East Supervisory Union (CESU) model kindergarten curriculum (or, for that matter, the Vermont Department of Education’s Grade Level Expectations). Currently the RES kindergarten eliminates one unit from the CESU Social Studies curriculum, implements less than ½ of the Communications Curriculum (language arts, reading and writing),completes 1/3 of the Mathematics units, 2/3 of the Science units and has limited Guidance and Health Education units.

The vast majority of individuals who spoke at the recent public hearings expressed support for the full day schedule. In order to provide the best possible options for all parents, the ½ day (morning) option was maintained. The full day K option will increase the total hours per week from 18.5 hours to 32.5 hours. The weight of recent research evidence includes but is not limited to the following documented benefits: increased school readiness (students are better prepared for first grade learning), higher academic achievement (on standardized tests and classroom grades [for better or worse, increasingly schools are being judged by these standardized tests]), faster rate of literacy and language development, social and emotional benefits (positive classrooms behavior), and potential decreased costs (by reduced retention and remediation rates). Based on current RES projections for student population for the 2005 -2006 school year, no new teachers will be required to support the full day K program. By implementing the full day K program the RES Board has also proposed eliminating the mid-day bus run at a cost savings of approximately $8,000 to the supervisory union. Existing physical space will accommodate the expanding offering. If full day K is not implemented during the 2006-2007 year, the district will save approximately $41,000 in teacher salary and benefits (approximately $20 per $200,000 of assessed property value); however the district will not realize the $8,000 transportation savings.

The RES Board is keenly aware that simply offering more hours will not result in the aforementioned benefits. A full day kindergarten must include: quality teachers, developmentally appropriate curriculum that emphasizes language development and emergent
literacy experiences, and includes close ties and information sharing between parents and teachers. More time for informal play and time for exploration will be possible. By allowing for a less hectic schedule teachers can gear instruction to students needs and allow for appropriate student assessment. Most importantly, the CESU curriculum can be fully implemented.

Common concerns with full day Kindergarten include the following: worry about implementing an overly demanding curriculum, length of day, cost, local autonomy and competition for early childhood funding and quality staff. Time and time again parents have presented to the RES Board comments such as “my child learned more in a full day, (and) states he does not like half days” and “He would have liked to stay full days all week!” The RES Board has also heard from parents that their child will benefit most by remaining in a ½ day program, and as mentioned previously the RES Board is committed to allowing a ½ day morning option. Multiple up-to-date studies have been conducted on the full day K issue and are available on-line; the RES Board encourages Richmond residents to conduct a global search for “full day kindergarten” and review some of the available information, the RES Board also encourages Richmond residents to provide the support needed for the proposed kindergarten schedule.

Full day K has been the focal point of every board meeting for many months. The board feels that it is our responsibility to provide the best possible public school program for our Kindergarten through 4th grade school within reasonable financial costs. The board feels that all students will benefit from a well-balanced, complete Kindergarten curriculum.


Note: This piece has been submitted by RES School Board member Stephen Znamierowski on behalf of the RES School Board.