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Half day kindergarten means half the results
GPS district has decided to charge tuition for full-day kindergarten. Photo by Kelsey Haasch
Written by Andrea Lavalette - Staff Writer
Along with many educational budget cuts across the public school system, Gilbert Public Schools stands as one of the main districts involved in school district cuts. Dated back to 2005, the road for continuous full-day kindergarten has been a bumpy ride. Now, five years later, the GPS district has decided to charge tuition for full-day kindergarten.
Supporter of free full-day kindergarten, Board Clerk, Lily Tram, stated, “I do totally support the funding of all-day kindergarten. I probably would be one of those people that would pull [a child] out to attend another district that has it.”
I do totally support the funding of all-day kindergarten. I probably would be one of those people that would pull [a child] out to attend another district that has it.”
Due to the economy, especially in Arizona, many families have bills that they cannot pay. Charging tuition for full-day kindergarten would drastically affect families with kindergarten students. For families not able to pay for full-day, students would have to resort to taking half-day kindergarten, or leaving the district.
Although it may not seem like a lot, in the long run, full-day kindergarten has been proven more successful than half-day. According to researchers at WestEd, full-day kindergarten not only affects academic capabilities, but social skills as well. Gilbert High School graduate of 2009, Ryan Hess, stated, “I believe that, in the long run, a full day of kindergarten did help with my education. The material doesn’t necessarily take a full day, but I think being in an environment with a lot of kids, you don’t know at that age really helps build character. In this way children eventually make friends and build confidence, which in turn, produces effective study habits.”
In 2002, a study by Washington Educational Television Authority, tracked 17,600 Philadelphia students from kindergarten to fourth grade, to determine which students, were more likely to reach third grade without having to repeat a grade. The results showed a 26% difference of students who were more likely to make it without repeating. Another study at Ohio State, showed that the test scores from full-day students were 11% higher than half-day students.
All information added up, results of children participating in full-day kindergarten are much greater than students who are not. Charging for full-day kindergarten, in the long run, is completely unfair to students who have potential. Full-day kindergarten should be kept free, no matter what budget crisis is happening. Not offering kindergarten for free is going to cost the district and Arizona much more than they are aware.
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