Five-Day/Full-Day Kindergarten Summary
Current Program — Began in September 2009
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Three full days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), two half days (Monday, Friday)
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Teaching assistants in afternoons — 2.5 hours/day (Tues, Wed, Thurs)
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Tuition covers afternoon session cost (teacher time, TA support)
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Minimum state-required half-day K program, available free of charge, delivered in the AM
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Afternoon sessions are used by teachers to extend, but not introduce new, concepts or skills
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Many students leave every day after AM session to go to private after-school care, who might
otherwise stay and attend a full-day program
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All kindergarten students counted as half-time for Chapter 70 state education aid, as this current
program qualifies as half-day only
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Any K program that charges tuition only qualifies for state aid as half-day
Most Massachusetts school districts provide Five-Day/Full-Day free kindergarten. Winchester is in the
minority that does not.
Winchester kindergarten teachers and elementary principals are committed to providing a
developmentally appropriate kindergarten program and asked for an expansion of the 3 full/2 half-day
program with more TA support.
School Committee Proposal for September 2017 — Five-Day/Full-Day, No Tuition
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Five full days per week (Mon-Fri)
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Teaching assistants can start earlier — 3.6 hours/day (Mon-Fri)
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No tuition charged
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Minimum state-required half-day K program discontinued
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Teachers can teach new concepts and skills throughout the day, using a developmentally
appropriate activity-based approach, with time for students to play and rest
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All kindergarten students counted as full-time for Chapter 70 state education aid
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School Committee is asking Town Meeting for one-time, “bridge” funding for the 2017-18 cost
increase ($571,000) because state education aid is determined by the enrollment for the previous
year (in 2016 - 17, a half-day K program)
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School Dept estimates the minimum increase in state aid for 2018 -19 will be approx $471,000
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State aid will be a recurring funding source to support full-day K additional staff and increased hours
Discontinuing the half-day K option is needed to receive state funding for full-day K and have flexibilty
for teachers to schedule new learning activities.
Families know their five-year-olds’ needs best, and could wait to enroll their child, as public school
attendance is not legally required for five-year-olds.
Kindergarten teachers’ and elementary principals’ original request included full-time TA’s. The
estimated annual additional cost for that came to approx $802,000.
Cost estimates assume 19 kindergarten classes in 2017-18 and a projected enrollment increase over
this year’s number of K students.
04/19/2017