New Report: Full Day Kindergarten

Posted by on September 16, 2005

[posted from Public Education Network newsblast]

FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN: A STUDY OF STATE POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES

The Education Commission of the States (ECS) has released a new study that shows more must be done to increase access to full-day kindergarten for all children. While enrollment in full-day kindergarten has increased nine-fold over the last twenty years, less than two-thirds of America?s five-year-olds attend a full-day program and only nine states guarantee universal full-day kindergarten. ECS is calling on state legislators, school board members, state education department leaders and other policymakers to: (1) Ensure full-day kindergarten is a component of states? early learning and elementary school improvement efforts; (2) Require school districts to provide full-day kindergarten; and (3) Fully fund full-day kindergarten and provide other financial incentives to increase access to full-day kindergarten. The report indicates that many states: (a) Lack policies that provide universal access to full-day kindergarten; (b) Lack adequate funding policies for full-day kindergarten; (3) Lack policies that address the quality of full-day kindergarten. The study?s findings are significant because a growing body of research confirms that the first years of life are critical regarding both cognitive and social-emotional development. Studies show that full-day kindergarten helps close achievement gaps between children.

http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/62/41/6241.pdf