To the editor,
As parents, educators and citizens, we have a duty to provide our children with the tools necessary to succeed in life. A large part of this responsibility entails helping them build a solid educational foundation.
Full-day kindergarten allows young students to develop strong academic, social and emotional skills. All children in full-day kindergarten classes demonstrate great reading and mathematics gains than those in half-day classes. Full-day kindergarten also supports children at risk of school failure.
Viewing half-day kindergarten as a vehicle for saving money is shortsighted. Research shows that investments in quality early childhood programs generate returns of three-to-one or more by lowering grade retention and dropout rates later in children’s school careers.
Region 16, serving the towns of Beacon Falls and Prospect, is moving toward the implementation of full-day kindergarten for fall 2015, pending approval from the Board of Education. This is a very exciting time for the citizens of the two towns. With this development, we will be providing yet another positive selling point for potential homebuyers looking to move into the district, in addition to its primary purpose — ensuring a critical start in the academic lives of children throughout our district.
Currently, Region 16 has tasked a team of educators, administrators and parents to plan for the transition from half-day to full-day kindergarten. An open forum is being planned for Nov.20 at Woodland High School to give all interested citizens a chance to ask questions concerning the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program and to learn about the many exciting benefits. The goal is to support the students of Region 16 by providing resources that ensure a quality full-day kindergarten program for every child.
Amanda Worcester
Beacon Falls
