From Deseret News archives:
Utah board backs full-day kindergarten
Huntsman budget includes funds for optional program
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.
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.
- 3A: Hurricane 24, Park City 19 2:29 a.m.
- GameDay back in the MWC 2:19 a.m.
- Westminster campus briefs 1:49 a.m.
- SUU campus briefs 1:48 a.m.
- Dixie campus briefs 1:47 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake gameday 1:33 a.m.
- 5A: Bingham rolls to title game 12:59 a.m.
- Aggies hope for Spartan cure 12:57 a.m.
- 5A: Miners pull tricks to win 12:56 a.m.
- 5A: Davis runs over Hunter 12:54 a.m.
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Unga family is making its mark
- Selfishness to blame for Jazz woes?
- Study: Divorce likely when wife ill
- ESPN suddenly loves MWC
- Trial begins in toddler death
- Historically, Utes have owned TCU
- Two killed in Iron County crash
- 4A: Thunderbirds dynasty lives on
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
348 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Celtics crush Jazz
103 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
102 - Hatch empathizes with Muslims
88
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
True. It's not terribly funny and if it has any effect on society, it won't...
What else would you expect to find in a book called "The Founders on Religion"?
Ok not to be rude here, but check the stats, Hinds isnt first in yards and...
t-hinds = best player in utah
Anonymous: Was that English? I though conservatives believed if you are in...
Wow! Glad the Lord kept you safe. Separate comment: That was a horrible...
I have never been to a Utah high school game before as I am not from the...
It would behoove the above commenters to recall that religion, including our...
Only 8000 attendance? BYU had 16,000+ tonight. What is wrong with Ute fans?...
ian you are the 3A MVP If you win next week so just do it that would be nice....

