F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN IN THE C HESHIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : A P ROPOSAL Overview and Summary Information for Preschool/Kindergarten Providers December 16, 2013 Scott Detrick, Assistant Superintendent Ann Donnery, Principal, Darcey School

T IMELINE November 2012 Click HereClick Here - Why Full Day Kindergarten? Presentation Click HereClick Here - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting Presentation March 2013 Click HereClick Here - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting - Kindergarten Survey Results April 2013 Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force was formed May 2013 Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 1 June 2013 Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 2 August 2014 Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 3 September 2013 Click HereClick Here - Full-Day Kindergarten Flyer Distribution Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting PowerPoint Presentation - September 17, 2013 – Session 4 October 2013 Presentation to the BOE Curriculum Committee/Planning Committee Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting Debrief Process – Final Session (5) November 2013 Board of Education Votes to Include FDK Proposal in Supt. Budget.

C ONNECTICUT AND F ULL D AY K INDERGARTEN – A S OF O CT school districts; 7 Charter Schools and 11 Magnet Schools provide full-day kindergarten to all children.* 74% of Connecticut kindergarteners are in full-time programs.* 40% more districts offer full day K than five years ago.* DRG B – Brookfield, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Madison, New Fairfield, Orange, Simsbury, Trumbull, West Hartford, Woodbridge * October 1, 2012 SDE Kindergarten Enrollment

W HY F ULL D AY K INDERGARTEN ?

W HY F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN ? The learning process takes time. Allows for longer blocks of uninterrupted instructional time. Offers more time to progress though a curriculum that has changed and increased as evidenced by mandates such as the Common Core State Standards. Enhances opportunity to provide a better balance of active and quiet periods to support a developmentally appropriate environment for learning. More opportunities to spend time engaged in active, child-initiated activities. Supports individualized pacing and workshop approach. Curriculum/instructional improvement efforts will be more closely aligned with other grades. Emphasizes the process required to reach mastery of standard. Offers more opportunities to build stronger relationships- Teachers with students, teachers and parents, student to student. Deeper and more thorough exploration of concepts. More differentiation of instruction.

K INDERGARTEN : T HE N EED FOR T IME Kindergarten is a critical year for all children – a year of transition from preschool programs or home to their first formal schooling. It marks the start of a child’s long-term K-12 experience in our schools. It is our first opportunity to get to know each child and begin to build important foundations to facilitate learning skills that will last a lifetime.

 8:55 – 9:05 Arrival and Morning Routines (10 min)  9:05 – 9:25 Morning Meeting (20 min)  9:25 – 10:15 Readers workshop: mini-lesson, independent read, buddy read, differentiated focus centers/small group instruction, individual conferencing and end of workshop reflection/share. (40 – 60 min)  10:15 – 10:55 Special Subject Area (Art, Music, Physical Education, Library/Media) (40 min)  10:55 – 11:45 Writers workshop: mini-lesson, conferencing and end of workshop reflection/share (40 – 60 min)  11:45 – 12:45 Lunch and Recess (60 min)  12:45 – 1:35 Math Centers including daily mini-lesson (50 – 60 min)  1:35 – 2:05 Science/Social Studies/Health (30 min)  2:05 – 3:00 Developmental Play Centers (40 min – 60 min)  3:00 – 3:15 Closing Routines and Meeting (15 min) T YPICAL F ULL -D AY P ROGRAM

F EASIBILITY S TUDY ReorganizationSpace Factors ReconfiguringSpace Factors Additional OptionsCost Factors

R ECOMMENDED O PTION – 2014 – 2015 UPDATED 9/5/13 Capacity 1- 6 Need K Total Norton (25)22* 2/ 3 24/ 25 Doolittle (30) at Darcey (5) 4/ 55 Highland (44) at Darcey (4)44 Chapman (18)16* 2_ 18__ Total (126) / *Increased Projection

E XPANDING THE O PTION 1A – Flexible Kindergarten Location Flexibility in kindergarten location based on registrations due to fluctuating enrollment. Each year the district would review kindergarten registrations based on existing school district lines and determine kindergarten location by matching enrollment with space availability. We would honor the home school concept with Darcey School being available to all students based on space needs.

W HAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST ? P OTENTIAL F UNDING I MPLICATIONS (B ASED ON 16 F ULL D AY K INDERGARTEN C LASSROOMS ) Start Up Costs Furniture: Tables, Chairs, etc.$75,000 Materials/Supplies$50,000 Facilities Improvements $15,000 Cafeteria at Darcey – Option #2$165,000 Total$305,000 Staffing Costs: 8 Classroom Teachers $560,000 8 Instructional Assistants$116,000 Subtotal$676,000 Cost Savings: Transportation -$125,000 Total $551,000

T HE P ROCESS M OVING F ORWARD Superintendent Presents a Budget to the BOE – January 2, 2014 BOE Reviews Budget Recommendations – January/February 2014 BOE Finalizes a Budget by February 15, 2014 Town Council Reviews the BOE Budget (All Town Budgets) - March/April 2014 Town Council Establishes the Funding Level for the BOE - May 2014 BOE Decides Final Budget Allocations Based on Funding Level Established by the Town Council – May/June 2014

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