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Schools seeking one-year delay on all-day kindergarten

Full-day kindergarten might be a good idea, but districts wonder how they’d pay for it.

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Cost of all-day kindergarten big hurdle for schools

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By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer Updated 10:42 PM Saturday, December 12, 2009

SPRINGBORO — Kindergarten teacher Diane Cherella likes the idea of all-day kindergarten, saying it could expand the learning opportunities for young children.

“I think for the most part, the majority of children would thrive,” said Cherella, who teaches at Clearcreek Elementary School. “I also don’t think the transition into first grade would be that much of an adjustment if there were all-day K.”

Many educators say the same. But to implement all-day kindergarten, a key initiative in Gov. Ted Strickland’s evidenced-based school funding model, several obstacles stand in the way.

“Funding is the big piece,” said David Baker, Springboro’s superintendent.

The cost — about $205 million statewide — would fall to local school districts, not the state, Baker noted. That’s why Springboro and most of the 206 school districts around the state that don’t have all-day kindergarten will seek a one-year waiver, delaying the mandate until the fall of 2011, according to a survey conducted by the Ohio Department of Education.

Under the law, parents could elect to send their children just a half day, but if all kindergartners in the district (about 430) went a full day, the extra cost could reach $1 million, Baker said. In a community that hasn’t passed a levy in four recent attempts, Baker doesn’t know how the district would afford it.

“Yes, we most definitely will be seeking a waiver,” he said.

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