Editorial: Fully fund full-day kindergarten

Monday, March 8, 2004 | 8:59 a.m.

In the 1990s, as a trend toward full-day kindergarten began to take hold nationally, the need for a definitive study of its effectiveness became apparent. Most existing studies comparing full-day versus half-day kindergarten were either considered flawed by researchers or had produced indecisive results. In 1997, Purdue University professors James Elicker and Sangeeta Mathur published "What Do They Do All Day," a report based on two years of research in 12 kindergarten classes involving 179 children in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Their conclusions -- along with the conclusions reached in later studies -- gave momentum to the trend of full days for 5-year-olds. Today, more than 55 percent of the country's kindergarten students attend full day.

It's important to evaluate this trend because the Clark County School District, the nation's sixth-largest with nearly 270,000 students, is considering a pilot program to expand its full-day kindergarten. Currently, full-day kindergarten is offered only in some at-risk schools and at J. Marlan Walker International School, where the extra time and resources are paid for with federal funds. The full-day kindergarten program is worthwhile. Contacted by the Sun at his Purdue office, Elicker said, "Research suggests children from low-income families, non-English-speaking families and those with other educational risk factors stand to gain the most from additional time in quality kindergarten programs."

But full-day kindergarten has also been shown to benefit all students. In his study of randomly selected students, Elicker found many positive effects, including "significantly greater progress for full-day children in literacy, math, general learning skills and social skills." Studies whose results are this encouraging deserve our full attention.

We support the school district's interest in expanding its full-day kindergarten program. We are, however, concerned about one aspect of the pilot program that is being considered for 16 schools. Lacking sufficient funding for a major expansion of full-day kindergarten, the district is asking parents of kindergarteners in those schools how they would feel about paying tuition of up to $300 a month. This is not a novel approach. Other school districts around the country are trying it. But this is a trend that we hope doesn't take hold here. Charging tuition would lead to inequities -- children at schools whose parents could afford it would have an advantage. While it's never been fully achieved, public education is supposed to give every child an equal opportunity. Charging tuition would be a blatant disregard of this fundamental tenet.

Full-day kindergarten is a proven benefit to children. Gov. Kenny Guinn called for it in his 2003 State of the State speech, but the Legislature did not approve it. We believe it should be approved and fully financed by the state and federal governments.