Woonsocket Education Department Full Day Kindergarten A Critical Need for Woonsocket’s Youngest Students Giovanna Donoyan, PhD Superintendent Woonsocket Education Department May 14,2014

We listened to our City residents Presented multiple proposals over the past months to restore Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) in Woonsocket Heard your concerns loud and clear about costs, capacity, and sustainability Worked with the Mayor’s Office and RIDE to address concerns

Comprehensive proposal Tonight we present to the Woonsocket School Committee the most comprehensive FDK proposal that: Does not use the Middle School space Does not move to a 5/6 Academy model Does not increase local taxes Ensures a teacher assistant in each kindergarten classroom. We are 100% confident that we have designed a proposal that will be acceptable to all parties and provides the best educational opportunity to our children.

What we know - educationally Too many of our children are falling behind 67% of Woonsocket K students are not reading at grade level 7-9% of Woonsocket First graders are being held back Research shows FDK classes can produce long-term educational gains, especially for low-income and minority students % Students reading below grade level : Woonsocket 2011-12 K 1 2 3 Source: RI KIDS COUNT, May 2014 67% 53% 45% 43%

What we know- economically No additional local tax funding is needed to support FDK in Woonsocket FDK can help lower costly grade retention and remediation FDK in Woonsocket will result in more state education aid

Concerns addressed Facilities issues Logistics Staffing Budget All children remain at elementary schools and safety issues addressed Capacity analysis shows adequate room per NESDEC enrollment analysis Logistics Bus and starting times not impacted Breakfast / lunch programs are federally reimbursable Staffing 11 new teachers, itinerants, and 11 new Paraprofessionals Budget

It’s Time To Bring Back FDK! Improve student learning Close achievement gaps Important new programming for our youngest students No additional local cost but great local benefit for Woonsocket's youngest learners It’s Time To Bring Back FDK!