PROVO — The Provo School District is seeking permission from the Utah State Office of Education to continue a 4-day kindergarten program at Wasatch Elementary School.

The afternoon kindergarten session at Wasatch Elementary for the past 18 years has held no classes on Fridays.

On Fridays, the school dismisses early and has opted against holding shortened morning and afternoon kindergarten sessions, said Ray Morgan Provo District assistant superintendent.

In the past, the State Office of Education has informally OK'd the practice, Morgan said, but a new section of a State Board of Education rule states that "variances," or exceptions to the rule, must be sought in a more formal manner.

The afternoon kindergartners at Wasatch, though not meeting the mandatory 165 days of instruction each year, exceeds the 450-hour of instruction requirement by about five hours. Morgan hopes that the extra hours will convince the State Office of Education to grant a variance.