F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN Cheshire Public Schools Feasibility Task Force Meeting September 17, 2013

A GENDA Welcome Review Last Meeting Typical Full-Day in Kindergarten Option #1 and #1A – Issues/Further Study Next Steps

F ULL D AY K INDERGARTEN I NFORMATION S HEET Full-day Kindergarten in Cheshire? In the school year, approximately 74% of CT kindergarteners across 103 school districts were enrolled in full- day programs. Approximately 30% of the 103districts have instituted full-day kindergarten since 2011.* Only 14% of school districts in CT do not have full-day kindergarten. By offering only a ½ day kindergarten program in Cheshire, we are in the minority of CT school districts. For the school year, 12 additional school districts added full-day kindergarten. Why is full-day kindergarten important? A full-day of learning in kindergarten offers social, emotional and intellectual benefits to our youngest students. Students have more time to focus on learning, to reflect on their learning, and to transition between learning tasks. ** Full-day kindergarten offers teachers more time to assess students’ learning needs and strengths and to implement interventions and extensions to meet individual student learning goals.** Longitudinal data demonstrates that children in full-day classes show greater reading and mathematics achievement gains than those in half-day classes. ** Research has demonstrated that funds invested in quality early education programs produce powerful returns on investment. ** Strong Public Support for Full-Day Kindergarten? In a 2013 Cheshire town wide survey, 80% of respondents agreed kindergarten should be extended to full-day because it will provide more time during the day for children to learn the changing and more demanding curriculum expectations (as outlined in the recently mandated State Department of Education adoption of the Common Core State Standards). What can you do? GREAT QUESTION… DO your own research! A website has been created with resources for you to explore at JOIN the full-day kindergarten group to stay informed about upcoming issues and resources. To request to be added to the group send an to: TALK with Cheshire residents and share with them the benefits of full-day kindergarten. October 1, SDE Kindergarten Enrollment. **National Education Association. Full Day Kindergarten: An Advocacy Guide.

G ETTING THE W ORD OUT! June 2013: Curriculum and Instruction Newsletter Cheshire Marketplace BOE Curriculum Committee Meeting – September 9, 2013 School Business Partnership Meeting – September 10, 2013 Open House Sessions

A F ULL D AY IN K INDERGARTEN “inch wide, mile deep”

 8:55-9:25 –Arrival and Morning Meeting (30 min)  9:25-10:05 –Special Subject Area (40 min)  10:05-10:55 -Readers workshop including: mini-lesson, independent read, buddy read, differentiated focus centers/small group instruction, individual conferencing and end of workshop reflection/share. (40 min)  10:55-11:35 -Writers workshop including: mini-lesson, conferencing and end of workshop reflection/share (40 min)  11:40-12:40 –Lunch and Recess (60 min)  12:40-1:10 -Science/Social Studies (30 min)  1:10-1:50 -Math Centers including daily mini-lesson (50 min)  1:50-2:30 –Developmental Play Centers (40 min)  2:30-3:10- Science /Social Studies (40 min)  3:10-3:20 –Closing Meeting and Dismissal (10 min) Total minutes=380 T YPICAL F ULL -D AY P ROGRAM

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.

A full-day Kindergarten program allows teachers to be fully engaged in the social world of the classroom and be intentional in their interactions and instruction. With the many differences among—and wide age range of— kindergartners, teachers need to be responsive to developmental, individual, and cultural variation. Thoughtful, sensitive teaching promotes a joy of learning and prepares children for further academic challenges. A F INAL T HOUGHT

P ROJECTED E NROLLMENT BY Y EAR ABABABABABABABAB K A = Number of Students Enrolled B = Number of Classes

K INDERGARTEN E NROLLMENT IN C HESHIRE Anticipated Enrollment Class Size Budg# A.I. Total – 2014 = * = 253 Full Day Classrooms Needed = – 2015 = * = 279 Full Day Classrooms Needed = – 2016 = * = 272 Full Day Classrooms Needed = (*Saint Bridget’s Factor)

C LASSROOM S PACE A VAILABILITY 2014 – 2015 U PDATED 9/5/13 Darcey9existing classrooms Norton3(4) reduction in enrollment/use existing rooms (RAMS, etc) Doolittle1(2) use existing room(s) Highland6(7) reduction in enrollment/use existing rooms (RAMS, etc) Chapman 2(4) use existing rooms (RAMS, etc) Total21(26)

C LASSROOM S PACE A VAILABILITY /C APACITY E STIMATED TOTAL – U PDATED 9/5/13 Darcey -K9 Birth to 31 Pre-school5 Norton25 Doolittle30 Highland44 Chapman 18___________________ Total(Pre K – 6)132 K – 6 Total 126 Elementary 117

O PTION #1 S UMMARY Full-Day Kindergarten in CPS: Norton K – 6 (2/3 K classes) Chapman K – 6 (2 K classes) Highland K – 6 (4 K classes at Darcey 4 at Highland) Doolittle 1 – 6 (4/5 K classes at Darcey) Darcey –K classes: 8/9 (4 Highland and 4/5 Doolittle) and B – 3/Pre-School

O PTION #1 – 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 O PTION 1 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 a space needs.

I SSUE FOR O PTIONS #1 AND #1A Lunch at Darcey – How will that work? Transportation Building Room Capacity – Will each building have space to house the kindergarten classrooms and do these classrooms meet code requirements? What are the estimated funding implications? Which Highland students will attend Darcey?

F ACILITIES S URVEY Kindergarten (and 1 st Grade) – Basic Code Requirements Ground floor classrooms, sq ft per student, Exit Door to Outside Good news - we believe we’ll be compliant with some minor improvements Sufficient classrooms in each elementary school? Chapman – 2 classrooms available Norton – 3 kindergarten classrooms available ? Highland – 6 classrooms available; Need 8 x Doolittle – 1 classrooms available; Need 5 Darcey – Can accommodate 9 classrooms plus cafeteria in lower level Total cost of improvements in 10 classrooms estimated at $15,000 Total cost of cafeteria addition in Darcey depends on option selected

F OOD S ERVICES O PTIONS Option 1 – Students Bring Their Own Lunch Capital Investment - $25,000 Food Services Dept Net Budget Impact – None Option 2 – Cafeteria Services with Hot Food Prepared Offsite Capital Investment - $165,000 Food Services Dept Net Budget - $1,900 annual profit Option 3- Full Service Cafeteria Capital Investment - $250,000 Food Services Dept Net Budget - $2,300 annual loss

T RANSPORTATION Assumptions: Norton and Chapman Schools – Can accommodate all their local kindergarten students with buses transporting K-6 Doolittle – All kindergarten students will be transported to Darcey Highland – Will accommodate 4 classrooms of 16 students so 4 Highland kindergarten classes will be transported to Darcey. This will require flexible district lines changing year to year.

T RANSPORTATION Assumptions: Norton and Chapman Schools – Can accommodate all their local kindergarten students with buses transporting K-6 Doolittle – All kindergarten students will be transported to Darcey Highland – Will accommodate 4 classrooms of 16 students so 4 Highland kindergarten classes will be transported to Darcey. This will require flexible district lines changing year to year. Expected Transportation Impact – $100,000-$150,000 combined expense reduction from savings on fuel and Dattco costs by eliminating 8 current mid-day routes to Darcey and up to 2 bus routes overall.

P OTENTIAL F UNDING I MPLICATIONS (B ASED ON 16 F ULL D AY K INDERGARTEN C LASSROOMS ) (11/12) 8 (?)Classroom Teachers $560,000 8 (?)Instructional Assistants$116,000 Furniture: Tables, Chairs, etc.$75,000 Materials/Supplies$50,000 TotalCost $801,000 Cost Savings: Transportation -$125,000 TOTAL $676,000

N EXT STEPS October 7, 2013 – Share findings at the BOE Curriculum Committee meeting Finalize Costs for Option 1