Kindergarten: It’s About TimeKindergarten: It’s About Time

Kindergarten Summit

March 19, 2008

It’s Time!It’s Time!

• Time makes a difference

• How time is used makes a difference

• Time to make a difference

Kindergarten in David Douglas 1973-74

Kindergarten in David Douglas 1973-74

Kindergarten in David Douglas 2007-08

Kindergarten in David Douglas 2007-08

Road to Full DayRoad to Full Day

• 1993 A few classes full-day, every other day

• 1994 One full-day class in each school. Selection by lottery

• 2002 All classes half day

• 2004 One full-day class in each school. Selection by lottery

• 2005 All classes full-day

35 year comparison35 year comparison

1973-74• State mandated half-

day program• 2.5 hours per session• Snack time with

parent paid fee• Expectations minimal,

emphasis on social

2007-08• State mandated half-

day program• 9am-3:15pm in DD• Free breakfast, school

lunch• Expectations high,

emphasis on academic

Full-day Kindergarten in DDFull-day Kindergarten in DD

• 800 students in 27 classrooms

• HQ teacher and an instructional assistant in each classroom, additional assistance for larger percentages of ELL students

• 75% qualify for free/reduced meal assistance

• 36% qualify for ESL program

• 40% of students are Caucasian/English 1st

Beginning the yearBeginning the year

• Summer opportunities• Staggered start• Readiness inventory

Schedule comparisonSchedule comparison

• Half-day Sample• 8:45-9:10 check

in/Calendar• 9:10-10:10 Reading• 10:10-10:30 Math/SS• 10:30-11:10

Centers/Specials• 11:10-11:20 Story,

Dismissal

• Full-day Sample• 8:45-9:10

Check-in/Centers/Calendar• 9:10-10:10 Math• 10:10-10:40 Reading

Intervention• 10:40-11:10 Writing• 11:15-11:55 Lunch• 12:00-1:30 Reading• 1:30-1:40 Recess• 1:40-2:10 GLAD/Art/SS• 2:10-2:40 Specials• 2:40-3:15 Story/Closure

More content instructionMore content instruction

Time for breakfast and lunchTime for breakfast and lunch

Time for SpecialsTime for Specials

More time, so whatMore time, so what

• Parents, teachers, administrators agree:

• Increase in students’ academic readiness for first grade

• Increase in social development

• More instruction in content areas

• More creativity

• More close knit classroom community

More time, so whatMore time, so what

• In 2003-04, 35% of K students met mid-year benchmark on DIBELS Phoneme Segmentation Fluency. In 2007-08, 74% met that benchmark at mid-year.

• In 2003-04, 34% of K students met mid-year benchmark on DIBELS Nonsense Word Fluency. In 2007-08, 66% met that benchmark.

• Spring of 2004, 45% met end-of-year benchmark in Nonsense Word Fluency. Spring 2007, 85% met benchmark level.

More time, so whatMore time, so what

• DIBELS assessments show better growth in performance for both first and second grade students, whose groups participated in full day kindergarten, than for third grade, where about one third of the students had a full day program.

• At-risk subgroups all showed growth in reading skills after participating in the full-day kindergarten program.

I can read!I can read!

I can write!I can write!

I can do math!I can do math!

Kindergarten FactsKindergarten Facts

• 60% of children are enrolled in full-day public or private kindergarten programs

• Nine states mandate full-day kindergarten be offered

• Louisiana and West Virginia require attendance in full-day programs

The time has comeThe time has come

• Full funding for kindergarten with additional appropriation

• Optional, in consideration for facility concerns

• Movement toward QEM and catching up with other states

The time has comeThe time has come

• Full participation in quality readiness assessments to inform policy makers

• Coordinated efforts with early childhood for an effective, seamless system

• Emphasis on prevention, not remediation

The time has comeThe time has come

• Follow Supt. Castillo’s lead

• Pester your legislators

• Encourage your administrators

The time is always right to do what’s right

Martin Luther King

It’s about time, becauseit’s about children

It’s about time, becauseit’s about children