From Deseret News archives:

Utah board backs full-day kindergarten

Huntsman budget includes funds for optional program

Published: Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 11:18 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
The State Board of Education on Thursday put its weight behind the governor's quest for optional, full-day kindergarten to help children at risk for academic failure — an unprecedented move for the governing body of Utah's public school system.

The board OK'd a resolution that supports expanding full-day kindergarten programs "as an additional option for families" of at-risk students. The resolution also requests money to make that happen.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s budget request includes $7 million for the concept; the resolution aims to back him.

"We want to communicate to the parents and the general public . . . of the direction we're going," board member Debra Roberts said. It's not a requirement, it's not a new policy, and there are as yet no mandates associated with it.

Utah's compulsory education law doesn't even require that children attend kindergarten, and most schools offer half-day programs.

But 15 Utah school districts, including Weber, Ogden, Salt Lake City and Box Elder, offer full-day kindergarten programs, mostly with federal Title I dollars for low-income schools, the State Office of Education has reported.

Ten states mandate full-day kindergarten, in which 60 percent of American 5- and 6-year-olds participate.

Story continues below
Local and national research indicates full-day kindergarten is largely a preventive measure. It helps level the playing field between students who are disadvantaged and those who are not and closes achievement gaps before they take hold — a far cheaper option, socially and financially, than trying to catch up a child later on, advocates say.

The board tinkered with supporting full-day kindergarten programs last fall but met opposition from a group led by Cache County Republican Party vice chairwoman Shelly Locke.

The group feared the board wanted to require full-day kindergarten, which they said would trample on parents' rights and the fabric of the family. The Sutherland Institute, a conservative-minded Utah public policy group that last year proposed a $500 tax credit for families keeping their kindergarten-age children at home, also opposed the state board's direction.

The board's resolution since was edited to clarify support for targeted, yet optional, full-day kindergarten programs. It is cheered by Salt Lake District associate superintendent Charles Hausman.

"Salt Lake data is consistent with national research, which clearly indicates that full-day kindergarten results in improved student outcomes in math and literacy. Full-day programs are cost effective because they reduce the need for remediation in later grades. Prevention is always less expensive than treatment."


E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com

Recent comments

PART II OF COMMENT ABOUT HOME SCHOOL AND CHILDREN AT HOME LEARNING....

CHRISTINE NICOLLE MESA | Aug. 14, 2007 at 2:04 p.m.

I HOME SCHOOLED MY SON RAUL CHRISTOPHER PERALEZ UNTIL THE SECOND...

Anonymous | Aug. 14, 2007 at 1:53 p.m.

Image

Linda Ashcroft teaches kindergartners at Washington Elementary School in Bountiful. Local and national research indicates full-day kindergarten is a preventive measure.

previousnext

Latest comments

continued from previous post: The LDS church is very generous with this...

Letters: Explaining Palin

@Ernest T. Bass 4:57 p.m.: "If they ran the government on the principles...

House gives Real honor

Cool! Now let's hope this sparks a little more interest and support of the...

Big shots help Lone Peak edge Lehi

tell that to the kid that was as good and maybe a little better than your...

@Tim If this issue doesn't concern you, why even bother commenting?

To: Why? 1:29 p.m. Who are you asking? None of us knows the answers to...

thanks for sharing these tips. we all need to look for small ways to tread...

I was a part of standby thursday night. We were told that generally 400+...

Does anyone know if is true or not wether Utah is the only state that allows...

Hey all you great all staters. You get to come to Blanding for a week. Enjoy...

Advertisements