4 Year Old Kindergarten Considerations
Timeline for 2006-07
Update on Grant: We did not receive the $10,000 planning grant again. 2006-07 Planning costs
could come from the curriculum budget. Costs for materials for the 2007-08 pilot would be built
into the 2007-08 budget if you decide to move forward.
Update on 4 Year Kindergarten State Task Force:
It now looks like this report will be ready in September or October. Preliminary indications
shared by the WASDA legislative contact is that funding will not be pulled. The committee is
likely to recommend support of community based programs with possible vouchers. This is the
model we have been pursuing in our planning. I do not think this committee will be a barrier to
moving forward on a program of our own.
Update on Publicity: Most of you probably have seen recent articles in the Gazette and State
Journal advocating for 4 Year kindergarten. A Gazette editorial specifically encourage
Evansville to consider implement 4 year Kindergarten.
Timeline and Process:
October-November
I believe we should schedule a separate hearing in October or November once the state task force
report is released. We would mail a brochure/invitation to the families of all children in our 2-4
year old census:
explaining what our proposed program is and is not and
include projected costs.
There was much misinformation shared by parent opponents at the last discussion of this topic.
Their comments have helped us identify specific information we need to prepare and present to
provide an accurate picture of what the program would and would not be.
I also believe the committee needs to formally amend their initial goals. They did not have an
understanding of how the school revenue formula works when they set a goal of not creating any
additional taxes.
November-December
At a regular meeting make a formal motion to approve the pilot 4K program for 2007-08. This
decision needs to be made at this time to be part of the 2007-08 budget planning process.
January-March
If approved, continued pilot planning. Including how the students will be selected.
April-May
If approved, registration of students.
June-July
Summer curriculum time for team to plan with local providers.
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I think the biggest misconception is that 4 year old kindergarten would resemble 5k. I think a lot of parents initially supported the idea from the perspective of one less year of daycare. In reality, I think daycare costs would decrease somewhat, but between off days and half days it wouldn't cost much less than full time day care. I think it would be a lot of wasted money by the time you look at the personal expense that will continue to be paid by parents in addition to state and local education funds. Targeting the children that may need help would be a much better use of scarce educational tax dollars, than providing 4k to every child regardless of need.
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