Group Wants Full-Day Kindergarten in All Schools

Several years ago, as the economy was going full steam ahead, so was Fairfax County’s effort to install full-day kindergarten in each of the 138 elementary schools offering a kindergarten program. The budget for the 2007-08 school year included money to change 21 schools from half-day to full-day kindergarten.

But then the economy faltered, and so did the kindergarten extension program. Just six schools got a change to full-day kindergarten the following year, and then nothing since.

But now a growing group of organized, mobilized parents says it’s time for a jumpstart. The group, Equity in Education Via Full Day Kindergarten, says students attending the 37 schools, including Waples Mill Elementary in Oakton, still offering only half-day programs are simply not receiving an education on par with the 101 schools with full-day programs.

“We view it as a fairness and equity issue,” says Rebecca Geller, whose children would attend Silverbrook Elementary in Fairfax Station, one of the schools without full day kindergarten.

“Research shows children who attend full day kindergarten make greater gains in early literacy," Geller said. "Here, our teachers in half-day kindergarten are expected to cover the same curriculum in half the time. The students are at a disadvantage.”

The group will showcase its issue at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at a meeting at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St., Fairfax. It has assembled a full roster of speakers in support of its cause, including parents, teachers and a professor from George Mason University who will report on research showing the benefits of full-day kindergarten.

Geller says the meeting is a preparation for Fairfax County School Board budget hearings to take place Jan. 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School.

Until recently, the full-day kindergarten issue had not been scheduled to be addressed at the budget hearings, given that there is no money for expanding full day kindergarten in the Superintendents FY 2012 Proposed Budget, Geller said.

She said as the group has gained a groundswell of support, speakers on the issue will now be heard. Equity in Education has members from all 37 schools without full-day kindergarten, Geller said.

Meanwhile, Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41st District) has introduced a bill in the Virginia General Assembly to form a subcommittee to study the efficacy of full-day kindergarten in all of the schools in the Commonwealth.

“This issue has really steamrolled in the last week,” Geller said.

The school system is sympathetic to the full-day kindergarten cause. Division Deputy Superintendent Richard Moniuszko is scheduled to speak at the group’s meeting. He said in a statement full-day kindergarten “provides increased instructional time for all students to develop their cognitive, social and emotional skills.”

But the issue remains one of money. School spokesman Paul Regnier said the remaining schools without full-day kindergarten rank as the county’s least needy, using the criteria of how many students are eligible to receive free and reduced-price meals. He said the system expects the school board to resume installing full-day kindergartens, starting with the most needy schools and continuing through the least needy, when revenue shortfalls ease.

Geller said her group realizes the county has budget constraints but believes the money can be found to resume the full-day kindergarten continuation.

“This is not an enrichment program,” she said of full-day kindergarten. “This is not a supplemental program. This should be a given.”

The following schools have half-day kindergarten.

Churchill Road ES

 Source: FCPS