Kindergarten to go full-day?

The State Board of Education is tinkering with the idea of supporting full-day kindergarten in Utah schools — a move its leader says would be led by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"The governor is very supportive," board chairman Kim Burningham said. "We do not know exactly what the governor will be proposing, but I am fully confident, when the governor's budget comes out, there will be something about . . . extending full-day kindergarten."

Research gathered nationally and in Utah, including the Weber, Box Elder and Salt Lake City districts, shows full-day kindergarten helps level the playing field for students who are disadvantaged — non-English speakers, for instance — as well as those who are not.

"Performance gaps exist before kids even start school," said Salt Lake Associate Superintendent Charles Hausman. "Full-day kindergarten is a way to address those fairly efficiently. Prevention is always less expensive than intervention."

Although Huntsman has indicated support for the concept, his education deputy Tim Bridgewater said the governor has yet to set his priorities. "I think that the recommendation of the student achievement working group is to explore optional full-day kindergarten because the research is very strong," Bridgewater said. "In terms of his formal policy . . . , that will come out shortly. The budget will open with his list of priorities . . . , (but it) is still a work in progress."

The discussion at such high governmental levels is somewhat bold in a state that doesn't even require that children attend kindergarten and where conservative lawmakers have repeatedly shot down full-day kindergarten legislation.

Friday, Burningham proposed a board resolution supporting full-day kindergarten, leading off with Huntsman's "significant leadership toward increasing the practice."

The resolution would have the State Office of Education and other researchers evaluate the practice in Utah by December. It also would study, with the governor's office and the Utah School Superintendents Association, costs and priorities to phase in the concept.

"This matter was discussed with the governor," Burningham said. "He knows fully what we're doing here and supports our doing it."

Currently, 15 Utah school districts offer full-day kindergarten. Jordan has it in one school; Weber has five; Ogden has it in all. Most pay for it with federal dollars reserved for low-income schools.

Weber District Assistant Superintendent Jeff Stephens said state funding would free up federal dollars for other academic needs in Title I schools, which receive extra money to educate children at risk.

Nationally, 60 percent of kindergartners attend school all day, states the resolution, citing the U.S. Census Bureau.