While those in grade school attend school for a full 8 hours a day, should the children in kindergarten be awarded the same time? Recently, legislative leaders in the state of Idaho have been pushing for a bill supporting all-day kindergarten. Let’s look into what this bill entails, and how it is helpful and harmful.
Senate Bill 1315, is the bill that would provide families with the opportunity to send their young children to kindergarten that lasted a full “school day”. Senator Janie Ward-Engleking mentions that while some students have this privilege, it is not accessible for all and must be amended to be more accommodating. In addition, the learning lag that was created due to the pandemic can be erased if younger children are at school for longer periods of time.
Three main bills were presented to the Senate Education:
The first one, Senate Bill 1314, essentially outlined a new system for Idaho to distribute its literacy budget. Instead of giving the money based on students at risk, schools would receive money depending on how well the students perform. This revised formula would reward high-performing schools. While, in theory, this seems like a great idea, it may take away some money from those schools who need it most, even if they do not have the highest performing students.
The second bill, Senate Bill 1315, dictates all-day kindergarten. These programs would still be optional, but it mandates that state funding will not be permitted to put property tax levy dollars into kindergarten. This makes it more affordable for parents while allowing their children to gain more knowledge at a young age.
Finally, Senate Bill 1318, awards parents who keep their children in half-day kindergarten, “evidence-based supplementary materials” to further help their kids. They also receive the option of sending their children to summer school.
Idaho would benefit a lot from these changes. Governor Brad Little also believes that this could improve the state’s concerning early reading scores. With this new idea, schools will be able to offer full-day kindergarten without receiving extra tuition, making it easier for parents. Additionally, this would allow younger children to gain more knowledge and time spent in school, effectively preparing them for grade school. However, there could be some disadvantages in creating such adjustments. The new system for the literacy budget may not be the most productive way to allocate the money afforded to schools. Moreover, younger children may find it taxing to be in school for long periods of time.
The change in schooling offers many benefits, possibly outweighing any disadvantages it may carry. This amendment could lead to the future of how kindergartens run.
Sources:
Richert, Kevin. “Idaho Legislative Leaders Push for All-Day Kindergarten as Part of on-Going Literacy Initiative.” Krem.com, 27 Feb. 2022, www.krem.com/article/news/education/legislative-leaders-push-for-all-day-kindergarten/293-b5ef8dee-083c-41c7-a595-32d0ef05f1eb.
Stjepovic, Katija. “Idaho Lawmakers Prepare to Hear All-Day Kindergarten Bill, Gov Little Requests to Pull the Bill for Two Days.” Ktvb.com, 27 Feb. 2022, www.ktvb.com/article/news/politics/idaho-lawmakers-to-hear-all-day-kindergarten-bill-gov-little-requests-to-pull-the-bill-for-two-days/277-9d1351d0-00ea-4d8a-acca-b8c10279d2ca.
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