04/11/2013

Superintendent outlines plan to pilot full-day kindergarten program next school year

The School Department is planning to pilot a full-day kindergarten program in the 2013-14 school year.

Superintendent Meredith Nadeau outlined plans to have two full-day kindergarten sessions at Pond Cove School at the April 9, 2013 School Board meeting [download presentation]. Four half-day kindergarten sessions would also be offered, all using existing staff and space.

Currently kindergarten is taught in six half-day sessions.

Which of the 100 kindergarten students anticipated for next year will get to pilot full-day kindergarten will be determined by lottery, Nadeau said. "It isn't ideal, but I think it is a prudent way to test this out and move it forward and find out if this is something that has full community support and if it's going to be effective for our children and our community," said Nadeau.

Full-day kindergarten was a top issue for Cape residents who attended a community forum last October, Nadeau said. Full-day kindergarten may also boost achievement for students with special needs and students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches, groups that have not achieved as well as other students in Cape Elizabeth, she said.

"Several studies have shown greater lasting benefit from participation in full day programs than in half day programs," Nadeau said. "And there are more of those studies every day."

Cape Elizabeth staff agree with national reports citing more time with fewer students; opportunities for different types of learning experiences; fewer daily transitions and better transition to first grade among the many benefits of full-day kindergarten, Nadeau said.

No additional cost

An added benefit is that next year, Cape Elizabeth will be able to try full-day kindergarten at no additional cost.

Officials had considered moving to a full-day program when the kindergarten wing was added to Pond Cove School 10 years ago, Nadeau said. An extended program, however, would have meant building additional classrooms. But next year, declining enrollment means the school will be able to create two full-day kindergarten sessions without adding staff or classroom space.

Plans are to bring one teacher from another grade to the kindergarten team, bringing the size of the team to four. A special-ed classroom in the kindergarten wing would be moved to another part of the building so that all kindergarten classes will be in the same corridor, Nadeau said.

Curriculum would remain the same. "It's the same curriculum, just more time to deliver the instruction," Nadeau said.

More than costs to consider

One School Board member, however, said costs should not be the only consideration. Michael Moore, chairman of the board's finance committee, said that given the benefits and proliferation of full-day kindergarten programs, it was "baffling" that Cape Elizabeth did not have one.

"I think if you didn't live in Cape Elizabeth you would be shocked to learn that a school system such as ours, that has such broad community support, does not have full-day kindergarten," Moore said. He said he has been arguing for full-day kindergarten for several years. "My argument is if we can justify it on an educational basis then we have to find the resources and allocate it as such," he said.

Nadeau said kindergarten students will be assessed throughout the pilot year to help guide the future. "Is that perfectly scientific? No, because it is a small sample size," she said. "We know what the primary research base tells us, but we're also going to have some indicators about how it's working locally."

The number of parents who sign up for the placement lottery will also indicate how well the program will be received.

In coming years, if enrollment continues to decline as predicted, space and staffing should not be major obstacles to continuing or expanding full-day kindergarten, Nadeau said. "I also think that if you think about the outcomes for students over time, it is reasonable for us to expect that as this program is fully implemented we will see reductions in special education referrals for example, the decreased need for literacy support for students moving forward through the elementary school years and beyond.

Lottery

Details of the lottery have not been determined, but Nadeau said parents will likely be asked to let the school know whether they want their kindergartners in one of the full-day sessions in the next few weeks. Some time after the school budget validation vote on May 14, lottery results will be announced and a waiting list will be created for families that were not selected.

Pond Cove School Principal Kelly Hasson has had first-hand experience with lottery systems in Portland schools, Nadeau said, and there are other models in schools throughout the country, usually for "choice" programs.

School Board members said they have received emails and apologized for the anxiety the lottery was producing. "I do realize for many families the lottery system isn't the best option," Moore said. "We understand that but it's the best way for us to transition and to pilot a program, so thank you for being patient and hopefully in the future there'll be full-day kindergarten, but we need to take it one step at a
time."

Easement funds for kindergarten materials

In a related matter, board members learned April 9 that the School Department would receive $5,000 as payment for an easement over the High School access road to be used by the owners of a gourmet deli set to open at 349 Ocean House Road. They supported Nadeau's suggestion that the funds be used to purchase kindergarten materials.