Kindergarten 2012
Where am I?
Enrollment Packet (pdf, 857.69KB)
KSD Board Approves Tuition-Free Full-Day Kindergarten
December 13, 2011
Kindergarten 2012 Update: At the Kirkwood School District Board of Education meeting on Dec. 12, the Board of Education unanimously approved tuition-free, full-day kindergarten for the fall of 2012.
The attached enrollment form may be printed and submitted to an elementary school in your enrollment area. Kindergarten registration officially begins in January, 2012. Families can enroll through August 2012, but the District encourages families to enroll early to assist with planning and staffing.
Kindergarten Enrollment (pdf, 88.71KB)
Kindergarten 2012 Update: Because of the solid support of our residents and school community, every child in the Kirkwood School District will be able to attend kindergarten in his or her home school in the fall of 2012. This website is provided to keep parents up-to-date on discussions regarding the current kindergarten program and the tuition-free, full-day kindergarten program currently under discussion.
On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, the Kirkwood School District held a full-day kindergarten forum for parents, staff and community members. The following is a recap of the superintendent's remarks and summary of the questions asked and answers provided. The District will continue to add to this website as information becomes available.
Full-Day Kindergarten Forum
Superintendent’s Remarks from November 9 Forum
Thank you for attending our community forum on whether the Kirkwood School District should offer tuition-free, full-day Kindergarten. Tuition-free, full-day kindergarten means that every child in the Kirkwood School District would have equal access to full-day kindergarten.
We currently provide the option of full and half-day kindergarten to families. Parents who choose the full -day program for their child pay a tuition fee of $3,600. However, if the family qualifies for reduced priced lunch, the tuition payment is reduced to $1300. And, if the family qualifies for a free lunch program, the tuition is reduced to $900 a year. The District currently has 180 students (9 sections) in full-day kindergarten and 187 students (10 sections) in the half-day. The District collects approximately $500,000 in tuition payments each year. About 4 years ago the District updated its strategic plan. One of the identified priorities within that plan was full-day, tuition-free kindergarten. Thanks to the support of our community Proposition 1 was passed last fall, which means for the first time ever, we have the capacity to offer full-day kindergarten to all of our students. The Board of Education is now considering whether we should provide tuition-free, full -day kindergarten to all of our students in the fall of 2012.
This evening, we want to share information and hear from you regarding full-day kindergarten. We have a panel of experts made up of teachers and administrators who will do their best to respond to your questions.
You will hear many questions and comments this evening regarding the research and the impact of full-day vs. half -day kindergarten on the long term academic success of a student. I will tell you right now that we have only collected limited data on our recent kindergarten students.
There is plenty of research already in place that clearly identifies the positive aspects of full-day kindergarten. There is also research that shows a leveling of academic skills around third grade. Opponents of full-day kindergarten will argue that the cost benefit does not justify the investment of additional spending on our children. We have not engaged in expensive or time-consuming research on the effect full-day kindergarten has had on the academic success of our students. We believe that the existing research overwhelmingly supports the benefits of full-day kindergarten programs. The real issue is whether we should be charging tuition for the full-day option. It is interesting to note that of our 12 recently announced National Merit Semi-Finalists and Commended Students, all but one attended full- day kindergarten.
Research studies comparing half-day and full-day kindergarten show that children benefit from a developmentally appropriate, full-day program, most notably in terms of early academic achievement that provides a foundation for school and life success. Full-day kindergarten can afford children the academic learning time needed to prepare for mastery of primary-grade reading and math skills. In doing so, such programs help circumvent subsequent needs for remediation or grade retention.
I think the real question is how do we make access to full day kindergarten available to everyone in the Kirkwood School District. If we provide tuition-free, full-day kindergarten, then participation will be voluntary. Parents who prefer half-day enrollment will retain that option.
The way to expand access to full day kindergarten is to make it tuition free. Every parent should have an equal opportunity to send his or her child to full-day kindergarten. A tuition payment should not be a barrier for a parent to send his or her child to full-day kindergarten.
There is a cost to implement full-day kindergarten in Kirkwood. It is an additional $850,000 a year over current costs. This includes additional state funding for full day students, loss of tuition payments and the cost for additional teachers. There will be cost savings from less transportation and less need for remediation and retention in later grades. Research indicates that every dollar invested in quality early learning generates a high rate of return on those investments when the children are adults through increased tax revenues and decreased social services.
So, how will we pay for it? We will pay for tuition free kindergarten by looking at every district expenditure, by finding cost savings and efficiencies in our existing budget, and by using the authorized tax rate every year. We will also use our fund balance on a year to year basis. We do not anticipate requesting additional funding from our community specifically to fund tuition-free kindergarten. If tuition-free kindergarten is a priority, then we should be able to provide this program within the framework of our existing budget. We know it won’t be easy, but I believe it is the right thing to do for our students, parents, and community.
The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) document is a summary of the questions asked and answers provided during the forum.
- Q: Is the curriculum the same for half-day as it is for full-day kindergarten?
A: Yes. Teachers who work in the half-day program provide the same curriculum as the full-day program. However, the students in the full-day program benefit from the additional opportunities to practice new skills and develop the habits of good learners. - Q: What does the research show?
A: The majority of research supports the effectiveness of full-day kindergarten programs that are developmentally appropriate, indicating that they have academic and behavioral benefits for young children. In full-day programs, appropriately paced instruction geared to students needs and assessment of student progress contributes to the effectiveness of the program.
Other research on the trends in kindergarten scheduling argue that changing the length of kindergarten day is not as important as making sure that all kindergarteners are provided with developmentally and individually appropriate learning environments, regardless of whether these programs are full day or half day. - Q: Why doesn’t the state fund full-day kindergarten?
A: The state has set a goal for all kindergarten students to be enrolled in full-day programs by 2013, however as a “hold harmless” District, Kirkwood receives minimal financial support from the state. Local taxes are the funding source for most of our district’s programs and services. - Q: If Kirkwood approves tuition-free full day kindergarten for all students, will there be an option for half day? A: Yes. Parents will have the option of picking their children up at mid-day.
- Q: How will class placement be determined?
A: Kindergarten students would be placed in classrooms using the same procedures as placement in other grades. Every effort will be made to create balanced groups of learners based on information provided by parents and pre-schools. - Q. Will it be necessary to increase class sizes to pay for tuition-free full day kindergarten?
A. There is no plan to increase class sizes at any grade level. - Q: What is the current student schedule for both full-day and half-day kindergarten?
A: In the full day program, students spend about 90 minutes in literacy activities and 60 minutes in math. Students in the half-day program spend about 60 minutes in literacy and about 45 minutes on math. In the half-day program, science and social studies are typically embedded into the literacy block, while in full-day kindergarten there is more time to go in-depth with these subjects. Both half-day and full-day students have art, music, or physical education class each day, on a rotating basis. - Q: Do you anticipate a budget deficit for the 2011-12 school year?
A: In June the District published the 2011-12 school district budget. At that time, the District projected a $3.5 million dollar deficit, but due to cost savings measures and setting the tax rate at the voter approved ceiling, the District is now projecting a $1 million deficit. We will continue our efforts to control expenses while protecting instructional resources, and we will evaluate every open position to determine if an opportunity exists to restructure the position to reduce expenditures. - Q: If the District moves forward with tuition-free, full-day kindergarten, will the District go to the voters for an additional operating tax levy?
A: We will pay for tuition free kindergarten by finding cost savings and efficiencies in our existing budget, and by using the authorized tax rate every year. We will also use our fund balance on a year to year basis. We do not anticipate requesting additional funding from our community specifically to fund tuition-free kindergarten. - Q: Is there research showing full-day kindergarten programs provide lasting educational benefits for students?
A: Research indicates that every dollar invested in quality early learning generates a high rate of return on those investments when the children reach adulthood through increased tax revenues and decreased social services. - Q: Do other school districts provide tuition-free, full-day kindergarten?
A: Yes. Kirkwood is only one of five school districts in the state of Missouri that doesn’t provide tuition-free, full-day kindergarten. - Q: Why not just provide tuition-free kindergarten to families who meet the requirements for the reduced-priced and free lunch program and charge tuition for other families?
A: In 2008 tuition-free, full-day kindergarten was placed as a priority in the District’s strategic plan. However, the District did not have the space to accommodate every kindergarten student. In November 2010 the community approved Proposition 1, a no-tax-rate increase bond referendum, which provided the funds to build classrooms at every elementary school. The classrooms will be complete by the fall of 2012. If the District recommends providing a full-day kindergarten program for all students, every parent should have an equal opportunity to send his or her child to full-day kindergarten. A tuition payment should not be a barrier for a parent to send his or her child to full-day kindergarten. - Q: What is the difference in the curriculum between half-day and full-day kindergarten?
A: The curriculum is the same, but the “how” and “way” the curriculum is delivered is different in full-day kindergarten because the students have more time to practice, explore and create. - Q: What is the best class size for full-day kindergarten?
A: When we look at class size, we believe fewer students with a certified teacher increases achievement. Our goal is to have 20 students in a kindergarten classroom.