Full-Day Kindergarten

Thesis Statement: Children benefit more from a high quality full-day pre-k program because their daily attendance rate is better than average and have reduced chronic absences, their social-emotional development is better, and their achievement scores in language and math are higher than their peers who attend a half-day or no pre-k program.

Early childhood education is crucial for success in the formalized education system. Many children born into lower income communities do not obtain this advantage. According to Kozol, simply based off accident of birth a child will lead completely different educational lives (2005). For example, a white toddler in an upper middle class neighborhood might attend a prestigious educational preliminary kindergarten. These respected early education schools are often referred to as “baby ivies” (Kozol, 2005). The child participates in pre-numeracy skills along with pre-writing skills. Conversely, a child of minority descent living in an underprivileged neighborhood may not initiate school until they are five years old. In the three previous years a

Statement of Issue: Many minority children and children from low-income families enter kindergarten without the academic skills they need to succeed. Math and reading abilities at kindergarten entry are powerful predictors of later school success. Research shows kids who start school already behind are unlikely to ever get caught up to standards. Hispanic and African American children are anywhere from 7 to 12 months behind in reading and 9 to 10 months behind on math when they enter kindergarten. Access remains extremely low to high-quality early education do to a couple of problems. First, rates of access to early education vary widely as a function of children’s socioeconomic backgrounds. Secondly, the quality of most early education programs is not high enough to substantially improve academic readiness. Considering the tremendous potential for high-quality preschool to improve children’s outcomes, this policy brief will consider how a universal publicly funded pre-kindergarten program in the United States could decrease both disparities in access to early learning and achievement gaps at kindergarten entry.

The toddler and preschool years in a child’s life are very important and there are many programs that have been implemented to ensure a quality life. As a result, programs such as: (a) Head Start, (b) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and (c) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children all were created to adhere to children ages 1-4. First, the federal Head Start program was launched in 1965 as a part of President Johnson’s “war on poverty” (Kotch, 2013, p.152). Head Start was a national initiative to help improve the odds of an impoverished child succeeding in life. This program provides child care, parent education, and monitors children’s nutritional and emotional status. The second program implemented

The second research article was selected from The Early Childhood Education Journal and is titled “A Quantitative Study of Head Start Children’s Strengths, Families’ Perspectives, and Teachers’ Ratings in the Transition to Kindergarten” (Robinson & Diamond, 2013). This study explored the connection between preschool children’s social-interpersonal skills and their transition to kindergarten in mid-western America. One hundred and thirty-three preschool children participated in this study over a two year period using three measures of testing. In the year leading up to commencing kindergarten the children’s social-interpersonal skills were evaluated by their teachers. In the following year, parents/guardians and teachers were then required to report on the children’s adjustment to kindergarten. The results of this study found that there was no connection between parents/guardians and teachers reports of

The Abecedarian Project researchers extended the research done with the Perry Preschool Project, the Early Training Project, and Head Start school outcomes. Although extensive research had been done in the areas of early childhood education and benefits later in life, none had been done when children were in an intensive classroom setting for an entire day, five days per week, as opposed to half days or even a few days per week in prior studies.

Early childhood education has many benefits and there is the potential for many significant outcomes if universal preschools were put into place. Some feel that children who start kindergarten without previously attended preschool sometimes lack certain skills such as social and communication skills and an inability to follow routines. There were also studies done that found attending preschool could help to close the achievement gap in the grade school years. A child’s first few years of life are most important, and they absorb the most during those years. By providing universal preschool, all children would be benefiting, especially those who are in at-risk families or part of the lower class. As a society, we have a responsibility to help the children in our communities and provide them with the education they need in order to help them succeed in life.

This analysis uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Program Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K: 2011) a study supported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) that tracks children’s educational experiences and development as they progress along the school system. Although, the ECLS-K: 2011 provides comprehensive data about multiple aspects of a child’s educational experience only select data points (11,027 degrees of freedom) were used in this analysis and are summarized in table 1.1.

As society progresses, becomes more competitive and fast paced it is important to prepare the coming generations so that they are not left behind. While initial cognitive learning and development begin at home with caregivers as teachers, there comes a point where parental instruction need to be supplemented. Preschool is an informal yet structured social and academic program for children before they begin formal education. Numerous studies conducted over the past few decades have shown that with preschool exposure, children are more adept when they begin primary school. Children who attended preschool were found to be more academically prepared, had better language skills, and better overall behavior than those who did not attend. Long term,

The study included 238 preschool-age children from middle, and high-income families and 118 preschool-age children from low-income families all ranging from 2-5 years of age. The results of this study revealed that as the middle and high-income children’s age increased, performance

Does a lengthened day make a difference? Kindergarten plays a crucial role in the growth and development of a child. It is at the kindergarten level where the child begins the basis for the rest of their path through education. Educators are constantly looking into new ways of improving the kindergarten curriculum and environment in order to provide their students with the most adequate education possible. There is always some criticism when it comes to change; as in the case with changing half-day to full-day kindergarten. After extensive research, I have found a number of studies comparing full-day and half-day kindergarten programs that show young children benefit more from a developmentally structured full-day kindergarten program, most notably in terms of academic achievement. Having the extra hours during the school day allows students to learn more and apply what they have learned. In this paper, I propose to answer the question of whether it is more beneficial for young children to attend full-day as opposed to half-day kindergarten programs, in relation to academic achievement, while exploring some of the attitudes and opinions that surround full-day and half-day kindergarten programs. I would also like to make note that the majority of research used in this paper is derived from studies conducted within the United States, and the purpose of improving education in the United States is slightly different than that in Canada.

This study took into account the students’ mobility and the negative relationship it has on students’ reading and math scores. This study determined that grade retention was lowered with early intervention. This research was conducted on low-income students in the Chicago inner city. The early intervention for students not only provided academic teaching, it also provided help for the families of the children in the program. This, in turn, helped the families to improve their home-life and the academic well-being of the family. The study proved that providing extended training for the students helped promote stability for the students which also helped with their academic growth. Students achieved more when they stayed in an environment that was consistent from year to year. Another finding and positive effect that pre-k had on students was that it provided them a good start and with a positive learning environment. All of these practices including the early intervention was a part of the preschool

Standardized tests and classroom grades find that full day students achieve higher and improve student attendance. There is better attendance in full-day kindergarten due to the parents understanding that there is so much more information and teaching provided during a longer day and does not want their child to miss, supporting a childs literacy and language development has long lasting effects that are greater in children that attend full day kindergarten (Villegas 2). One study showed higher reading achievement persisting through third grade and in some cases even seventh grade (Villegas 1). Enrolling a child in full-day kindergarten benefits them socially and emotionally. Full day gives children a balance of structured play and self play. Being with classmates for more hours in a classroom forces them to build positive relationships. Those relationships last sometimes all the way through twelfth grade. Decreases costs by reducing retention and remediation rates (Villegas 1, 2). One study, which found full day students to be more than twice as likely to remain on grade through third grade, showed that this academic benefit helped to offset 19 percent of the first year’s cost of extending the kindergarten day (Villegas 2).

The cognitive development of children is one of the most important topics being studied by researchers. Making sure our children develop properly is extremely important, and a lot of research revolves around trying to give children their best possible chance, by determining what helps and what limits them. Since their brains are so sensitive to information at this age and at a key age of development, it is crucial to ensure their learning is effective. One factor of this type of research is the debate over children attending full-day kindergarten and half-day kindergarten, and whether or not parents should have the option of which one to send their child to. More and more parents are moving into the workforce, which is making full-day kindergarten

Reynolds studies in 1996. Reynolds investigated the effects of preschool intervention versus school achievement in the sixth grade. Because of cognitive readiness at kindergarten entry due to preschool, children in the sixth grade showed significantly higher reading and math achievement with a lower incidence of grade retention. Evidence suggests that early school adjustment is positively associated with parental education, socioeconomic status, and children’s ethnicity (Ladd, 1987; Reynolds, 1991). These environmental entry factors are relative to the challenges of school and influence early adaptation. Parental education and income may afford advantages that lead to cognitive maturity prior to entry into kindergarten. A low socioeconomic status may produce increased stress in a family as well as diminished resources, and may influence the child through parenting practices and lack of warmth and acceptance. In American society, certain ethnic minorities have increased risk to psychological problems due to race discrimination and prejudice. This results in a higher amount of behavioral problems and lower academic achievement. These environmental entry factors effect a child’s psychological adjustment indirectly due to the many contributing factors to be considered. The socioeconomic status includes many demographic factors including: single parent families or larger families which mean decreased attention toward the child, amount of income or