How to resolve AdBlock issue? UPPER LAKE, Calif. – At its meeting Wednesday night the Upper Lake Union School District Board voted to institute daylong kindergarten at the district's elementary school beginning in the 2013-14 school year.
The board voted 4-0 on the proposal put forward by district Superintendent Valerie Gardner. Board member Don Meri was absent.
The vote was one of several the board took Wednesday night to address budgeting challenges, among them, the elimination of the middle school principal and an art teacher position, as Lake County News has reported.
Instituting extended day kindergarten is anticipated to help address several challenges the school faces.
For one, it will help better manage student attendance.
Gardner explained that schools receive state funding based on school attendance. As an example of how important that attendance is, it was noted that a 1 percent attendance change can earn – or lose – the school about $26,000.
Student attendance in kindergarten has been of particular concern for school officials, as Gardner explained that kindergarten sees one of the highest absentee rates due to a lack of transportation.
That's because, for some parents, getting the children home when school ends midday creates challenges that in many cases lead them to simply keep children home, school officials explained.
They were seeing children missing 60 to 70 days of school annually, Gardner said.
Not only does that lose the school attendance-related funds, it resulted in many children arriving in first grade unprepared due to having missed so much school time, according to Gardner.
She said that in areas with high poverty rates, all-day kindergarten is a good way to address transportation, attendance and other issues that keep children from school.
One county school district, Konocti Unified, currently has extended-day kindergarten, Gardner said.
Shelly Mascari, director of the Child Care Planning Council, confirmed to Lake County News that Konocti Unified is the only district currently offering extended-day kindergarten.
“Other districts are discussing this option to meet the educational needs of students and families,” said Mascari, who added that she's a proponent of the full day kindergarten option.
Along with extended-day kindergarten, Upper Lake Elementary's programs will increase the number of children eligible for transitional kindergarten, which is for students who will turn 5 years old between Oct. 2 and Dec. 2.
Gardner said kindergarten roundup is coming up soon, and in the weeks ahead she will have more information available for the community to explain the new kindergarten offerings.
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