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EDUCATION Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten Principals' suggestion differs from state guidelines Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 1, 2014 at 6:44 PM Updated Dec 1, 2014 at 8:24 PM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 1, 2014 at 6:44 PM Updated Dec 1, 2014 at 8:24 PM » Social News Medford elementary principals are proposing that the school district offer a three-quarter-day kindergarten program starting next fall instead of the full-day program that the state has recommended and offered to pay for. “We believe we are being financially responsible while meeting the needs of students,” said Jacksonville Elementary School Principal Joe Frazier, who researched the benefits of full- versus half-day kindergarten and presented his findings to the district's elementary team. After surveying parents and kindergarten teachers and reviewing the research, all 14 elementary school principals unanimously voted in favor of the three-quarter-day program, which they recommended to the School Board during a work session Monday evening. The three-quarter-day program, Frazier said, would not only save the district money — about $1.2 million in expenses in the first year — but also is more “developmentally appropriate for 5-year-olds.” However, if the district decides to do three-quarter rather than full-day kindergarten, it would receive only half-day funding from the state, Jenni Deaton, an administrative specialist with the Oregon Department of Education, said in an email. Board Chairman Jeff Thomas said the board hopes to have a decision for the elementary administrative team by the Jan. 12 meeting so the district can begin making preparations. The district typically has about 1,000 kindergarteners enrolled in its kindergarten programs, said Julie Evans, director of elementary education. Each of Medford’s elementary schools offers at least a half-day kindergarten program, which is funded by the state. The Title 1 schools offer a slightly longer day so children can eat lunch at school, Evans said. Research indicates that students in full-day kindergarten perform better socially and creatively and are better prepared for the rigors of first grade than their peers in half-day programs. However, many studies also show that the academic gains made in a full-day program fade after the first grade. “And there are a lot of studies that say 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds aren't ready for a six-hour school day,” Frazier said. “(A three-quarter day) will provide a nice transition from half-day preschool to full-day first grade," he added. Under a three-quarter schedule, students would be in school from 7:55 a.m. to 1 p.m. In 2011, under Senate Bill 248, the state promised additional funding starting in the fall of 2015 to districts offering full-day kindergarten. However, educators statewide are skeptical about whether the funding will come through. “I’m not aware of any new revenue source to pay for this,” Frazier said. A state budget proposal by Gov. John Kitzhaber unveiled Monday dedicates $9.4 billion — more than half the total proposed budget — to education over two years, with most of the money going to primary and secondary schools. Kitzhaber said investment in pre-third-grade education is key to boosting graduation rates. To implement three-quarter-day kindergarten next fall, the district would need to hire about 10 more teachers and 23 support staff; purchase 12 to 14 sets of curricula and 13 full sets of furniture and rent or buy four modular units for use at schools with no available classrooms. The total cost is nearly $2.6 million. Implementing full-day kindergarten would cost the district about $3.8 million. During the last school year, only 38.1 percent of Oregon’s kindergartners were enrolled in a full-day program, but nationwide full-day kindergarten is catching on. In the 1970s, 10 percent of kindergartners nationwide were attending a full-day program. As of 2012, 76 percent of kindergartners were enrolled in a full-day program, said Frazier, citing a USA Today article. “After researching it, we realized full-day was a little bit beyond our reach,” Frazier said. “But we are going to pack as much into the extra two hours (a day) as we can that is developmentally appropriate for 5-year-olds.” Reach reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt. By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 1, 2014 at 6:44 PM Updated Dec 1, 2014 at 8:24 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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