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More Bucks, Montgomery districts planning full-day
kindergarten
By Gary Weckselblatt, staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2016 6:00 pm
Out of three school districts that have studied switching
to full-day kindergarten, one has made a decision and
two are considering making it for 2017-18.
Hatboro-Horsham committed to extending its half-day
curriculum to a full day; Centennial and Palisades appear
to be leaning toward it.
"This was a process. We didn't just decide overnight,"
said Monica Taylor, Hatboro-Horsham's assistant
superintendent, who chaired a steering committee to
research the topic.
(File) Safety Melayna Brooks helps a
Bensalem kindergarten student find his
classroom at Russell C. Struble
Elementary School in September 2015.
The Bensalem School District has full-day
kindergarten.
"The decision to offer full-day kindergarten will not only
bring the district in alignment with close to 70 percent of
the county's school districts, but will also provide our
students with increased time and educational
opportunities necessary for the development of a solid academic, emotional, and social foundation."
Nationally, 77 percent of kindergartners are estimated to attend full-day programs. In Pennsylvania,
455 out of 500 school districts in the 2012-13 school year offered a full-day program — up from 352
during the 2005-06 school year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
In Montgomery County, 68 percent of the 22 districts have implemented full-day kindergarten,
including Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Upper Dublin, Upper Moreland and
Wissahickon.
Of Bucks County's 13 districts, six have full-day kindergarten — Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol
Township, Neshaminy, New Hope-Solebury and Pennsbury.
Centennial Superintendent David Baugh, a proponent of full-day, said research shows that by fourth or
fifth grade it's not apparent what student had full- or half-day kindergarten. But by the time they
graduate, the full-day students "had higher graduation rates, more success in college. They had lower
divorce rates, lower criminal rates. ... I think it's a huge investment in the education of our students, and
I think it's a huge boon."
Palisades Assistant Superintendent Kate Kieres points to a recent University of Virginia study,
“Experimental Evidence on Early Intervention: The Impact of Full Day Kindergarten." The study
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reinforces earlier findings that kindergartners with the lowest literacy skills entering a full-day program
experience the largest gains, and that full-day kindergarten has the potential to close achievement gaps.
A Hatboro-Horsham community survey that received 1,643 responses revealed that 86 percent of
parents with school-age children would have been interested in the full-day option if it was offered.
"Our community stakeholders are very interested in having a full-day program," Taylor said.
Hatboro-Horsham has studied the issue in the past, but a lack of space prevented the move. With a new
Hallowell Elementary School scheduled to open later this year and renovations at other schools, room
is no longer a problem, officials said.
After studying other districts and state and national trends, the district's Full-Day Kindergarten
Feasibility Task Force concluded "it's a fiscally responsible decision to support the full-day program,"
Taylor said.
The district is hoping that with grants, reallocation of staff and the elimination of its midday
transportation run for half-day kindergarten students, the change will be financially neutral.
Baugh said the cost to Centennial is estimated at $300,000. He's looking at tightening up other
programs to make it happen.
"We are optimistic we'll be launching (full-day kindergarten) next year in (20)17-18," he said. "A
survey we sent out received overwhelming support and interest from our community. Educationally, we
know it's really great for kids."
The only hesitation Centennial has is planning for a "smooth execution," Baugh said. "Our kindergarten
teachers asked for a year of planning. We heard them and believe it's the right thing to do."
Dana Morgan, Centennial's newest school board member and the mother of three young children,
advocated the idea during a December meeting of the district's education committee.
"I'm a very firm believer in it," she said, adding that it would have "such an impact on young, fertile
minds."
In Palisades, the district's Educational Programs and Services Committee favors a plan that would have
one full-day kindergarten class and one half-day class at each of three elementary schools, with classes
ranging from 12 to 20 students.
Kieres said the committee felt the plan would best balance the potential educational and social benefits
of full-day kindergarten with the officials’ imperative that the program not escalate expenses.
Admission to full-day classes would be based on academic need, with students requiring more support
being placed in that track. The current kindergarten teacher at each school would teach the full-day
class.
Meanwhile, students found to be more advanced would be tracked into the half-day program. The
early literacy teacher in each building would teach the half-day class.
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The district would establish academic screening criteria to determine where to place students. But
Kieres said there are benefits beyond the academic.
"There is more time for socialization — more time for constructive, focused play," she said. "We need
to make sure their emotional needs are met."
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