JANUARY 2004

Full-Day Kindergarten Gets Support

When companies are evaluating locations, one of the primary things which they consider is the community's education system. One of the key criteria used to evaluate the quality of an education system is whether or not a school district has full-day kindergarten. Because those knowledgeable about education know how significant early childhood education is to children's later success, full-day kindergarten has become a touchstone for evaluating commitment to quality education.

House Joint Resolution No. 9 created a Task Force to examine early childhood education programs in Delaware and to develop a plan for implementation of universal pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten. Beverley Baxter was appointed to the Early-Childhood Education Task Force and has served as Co-chairperson of the Full-Day Kindergarten Committee.

Research presented to the Task Force shows that children who attend full-day kindergarten demonstrate greater reading knowledge and skills than children enrolled in half-day kindergarten; perform better in school in later years; are less likely to repeat a grade or commit crime; and are more likely to score better on standardized exams, graduate from high school, attend an institution of higher education, and pay higher taxes due to higher income. Studies show that for each dollar invested in full-day kindergarten, $4 to $7 is saved in the future on special education, grade retention, and crime.

Delaware lags the nation: 60% of all kindergartners nationwide attend a full-day program. While several school districts in Delaware offer full-day-kindergarten as an option, as well as all Delaware charter schools, there is currently no state-wide commitment. That is changing.

The Early Childhood Education Task Force is recommending that all school districts provide full-day kindergarten to every eligible child. A bill has been drafted which requires districts, within three years, to provide the option of full-day kindergarten, but allows parents to opt for a half-day program. The bill provides for State funding to the districts, over a three-year period, at the same level as for first grade, and allows districts to impose a match tax to help fund the local share. The bill also allows districts to contract with local full-day kindergarten providers for some of their students if there is not enough space in existing buildings for full-day kindergarten classes.

Governor Minner has shown her support for full-day kindergarten by including $1 million in her proposed FY 2005 Budget for planning the implementation of full-day kindergarten in all districts.

Education Reform Brings Results

There is good news from Delaware's schools. The national tests which provide state-to-state comparisons, show that Delaware is doing better overall than Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the nation as a whole. The myth that you have to move to Pennsylvania or put your kids in private school to give them a good education is being put to the test. The following table from the Delaware Department of Education provides a snapshot of the latest good news:

Delaware Department of Education
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Comparison of NAEP Scores with Surrounding States

Delaware had the highest percentage of students meeting the NAEP “At or Above Basic” level in the fourth-grade Mathematics, Reading, and Writing NAEP assessments among the surrounding states reporting results. Delaware’s eighth-grade students scores highest among states reporting Writing scores, and was slightly behind New Jersey in Reading and New Jersey and Pennsylvania in Mathematics. In all cases Delaware outperformed the National Public Average scores.

Delaware’s fourth-grade students in mathematics had the second highest average scale score gain in the country. Eighth-grade students in mathematics tied for sixth for average scale score gain in the country. Delaware’s fourth-grade students in reading had the fourth highest average scale score in the country with the eighth-grade students showing an 11 point increase from the 1998 results, which ranks first in the U.S.

Beverley Baxter