NEW: Lawmakers Call for Full-Day Kindergarten
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
After the House of Representatives approved a resolution last year throwing support behind full-day kindergarten programs statewide, Reps. Roberto DaSilva (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) and Joy Hearn (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) are now looking to make full-day programs a matter of state law.
“The House debated this issue and endorsed a resolution last year supporting the concept of all-day kindergarten,” said Representative DaSilva. “But that’s not enough. We need to follow up our strong vote of support with legislation that makes full-day kindergarten a reality for all of our children.”
If enacted, the bill (2012-H 7127) would make full-day kindergarten mandatory, with a school day consisting of at least five-and-one-half hours of actual work.
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“As a parent whose children have greatly benefited from both preschool and full-day kindergarten, I see the value in a solid early education and hope that someday, all Rhode Island children will have access to the same programs,” he said.
Representative Hearn, who has long been a supporter of public education in Rhode Island, believes this is the first step of strengthening and equalizing public education in Rhode Island.
“With the Rhode Island Department of Education’s significant $50 million grant for preschool education, we have to make sure that our investment is followed by a strong all-day kindergarten program for our students,” Representative Hearn said. “Research has shown that an investment in early education provides a firm base for children to learn. I’m honored to be sponsoring such an exciting piece of legislation on behalf of all Rhode Island students.”
Students moving from a half-day to a full-day kindergarten format allows for a longer, continuous learning path for students to master important foundational learning skills, Representative DaSilva said.
“Once students become familiar with the pace and routine of a traditional school day, it’s easier to jump into that next level,” he added.
According to Kids Count Rhode Island, a children’s policy and advocacy organization, students enrolled in full-day kindergarten are more likely to be ready for the first grade than children in half-day kindergarten programs, “regardless of family income, parental education and school characteristics.”
The latest Kids Count report states “full-day kindergarten programs can be especially beneficial to poor and minority children and can contribute significantly to closing academic achievement gaps.” During the 2010-2011 school year, 17 school districts in Rhode Island offered universal access to full-day kindergarten programs and another six operated at least one full-day kindergarten classroom. The Lincoln school district began offering full-day kindergarten during the last school year. The Kids Count report also notes all independent charter schools in the state offering kindergarten run full-day programs.
The Woonsocket Education Department was the only “core city” to eliminate its full-day kindergarten program last year because of budgetary issues. Kids Count defines “core city” as a community in which 15 percent or more of the children live in families with income below the federal poverty level.
Co-sponsors of the all-day kindergarten bill include Representatives John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton), Raymond H. Johnston Jr. (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket) and Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown). The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.
