Hebron Dollars & Sense

I believe that some of the statements released by the HBOE are too selective when it comes to support of all-day kindergarten (ADK). Correct me if I am wrong, the statements supporting such a program refer to children whose socio-economic environment is DIFFERENT than Hebron. When ADK is mentioned at budget meetings, this distinction is never made. Our children in town can and do participate in pre-school experiences, come from loving-supportive home environments and literacy is not an issue. The following quotes are from a file available on the Internet: “ Blueprint for Action: Implementing the Early Childhood Agenda in Connecticut “.

Page 29: “The participation rate in early childhood programs is lower for children from low-income families than for other children (U. S. Department of Education, 1995). consequences of young children not participating in a preschool experience may be more costly in later years of schooling. "

PAGE 37 "Full-Day Kindergarten Rationale Research shows that a full-day kindergarten program is beneficial for a growing number of children, especially children from low-income families (Barnett and Escobar, 1987; Randolph, 1986; Schweinhart, Weikart, and Larner, 1986).

Page 69 "Research has demonstrated that parents have a strong influence on the literacy development of their children. Children who live in homes where literacy activities take place regularly are more likely to experience academic success than their peers with non-reading parents. Positive effects on children’s reading and writing abilities are observed when children are read to frequently at home, when they are engaged in dialog about books, when they are given access to reading and writing materials, and when they receive positive reinforcement for literacy activities. Conversely, children who live in families in which the adults have limited literacy skills themselves, or in homes where positive reading and writing experience are not part of everyday life, are especially at risk"

Click here to access the full article!

WELL PUT MARIE

NUFF SAID!!!!

Interesting article to say the least. I have a question to put out the posters here. I am not trying to be combative, I am genuinely interested in your answers.... I have been reading posts here for awhile now and have noticed that one thing that keeps coming up about the opposition to ADK is that it is being viewed as "taxpayer funded daycare" as I read once or twice. I am curious what about the program causes you to take this view of it?

An analysis of ADK versus HDK showed the actual increase of instructional time between the two was only 15 minutes on average. Also, the benefits were neglible and transient for the students (also referenced in previous posts).

So if we double the amount of school presence time for the students, but don't increase their learning or proficiency a significant amount, then the largest benefactors of the program become the parents who don't have to plan, schedule and work around a half-day daycare provider and can go to work instead.

This saves them money and hassle but doesn't really give the students the educational benefit that ALL taxpayers must finance.

Anecdotally, a colleague of mine basically admitted that the ADK system would be a method for him to achieve a trustworthy source to care for his child in a dual-income household. He also stated that the educational benefits were not his first priority in voting for ADK.

Great question mom of 2. I hate the pejorative "ADK daycare" and in better economic times will support the expansion of the ADK initiative. The number of times this "day care" characterization was written in the exit poll of May 4th is many. Sadly, I fear, it is a reflection of limited communication and documentation of the specifics about ADK. Where is the data to substantiate direct benefit to Hebron students in the pilot program? Why are the people that came out when the pilot was initiated not demonstrating support for the program now? I was not here at the time but understand people really wanted this program. Where are the 100 + parents whose children would benefit from ADK next year? They need to make noise and tell their neighbors this is a program worth funding. Given the handful of pro ADK HBOE meeting participants and the vote results, maybe even they agree this is not the time to be expanding this program. That is the only answer I can come up with.

If parents want this program, or any other, they need to demonstrate desire and commitment. The school admin and teachers can not lobby for it. Parents need to notify preschool parents of HBOE meetings. Parents need to organize and attend HBOE meetings. Parents need to read the HBOE minutes (sparse though they may be). Parents need to request meetings be broadcast live or taped - and then watch them! Complaining on the soccer field or at the park that we need ADK or that our C&E, Spanish or technology program is of marginal quality is not going to improve anything. The more parents we get engaged and participating the better our schools will be. The better informed we are the more able we will be to dispel the "daycare" myth.

I would be interested to see this analysis of the HDK vs. ADK - is there a specific study or anything you are referencing? I am going to admit that I am a very pro-ADK voter. I have a daughter that has gone through the ADK program here in Hebron and I have found it nothing but beneficial. Personally the "taxpayer funded daycare" statement attached to the Hebron program bothers me only because based on personal knowledge of how THIS program is being run it is anything but that. I am also a stay-at-home mom so the idea that I would send my daughter to a full day program that really wasn't full day but half day plus day care is a bit ridiculous. I agree that if people are viewing this as a substitute for daycare and not taking the educational benefits as their primary reasons for being pro or against then that is also crazy to me. This program is NOT a daycare situation in the least.

The reason I asked about a specific study that was referenced was because I am curious where the numbers came from stating an increase of only 15 minutes on average of instructional time. From my experience of my daughter being in the class and volunteering in the classroom as often as I could, that is WAY BELOW the instructional time they are getting in this program. Now I will be honest and take out time for lunch, recess and the 1/2 hour of quiet time they have to read quietly but that's an hour and a half. Technically the school day starts at 8:30 - take out time for settling in (something in ALL grade levels), their opening circle time where they discuss the days activitites etc, and the time it takes them to get ready to leave when the day ends at 3:00/3:10, plus the above mentioned hour and a half and you actually have approximately 5 hours of instructional time in the ADK classroom. And believe me they ARE filling that time with math, science, reading, their specials (art, music, library, technology, & gym) and not sitting playing and napping for long periods of time. The HDK classroom on the other hand boils down to 2 hours of instructional time to cram in the same amount of learning that the ADK classes are receiving.

I believe as someone stated on another post the REAL issue here is the curriculum that the teachers are REQUIRED to complete during the year in Kindergarten. These are State and Federal requirements - not ones the HBOE is making up on its own. In speaking to the teachers themselves they are struggling to fulfill the requirements. Now if we went back to HDK it would mean the loss of 2 teachers and the ones that stayed wouldn't actually be working half-days. The HDK teachers are still there for full-days - they teach in the morning AND afternoons. Not like their salaries would be reduced by the switch.

It was a real wake up call to me when I volunteered in my daughter's class that kindergarten is NOT what it used to be. When I was a kid yes it was playtime, naptime, and finger painting. But that was 30 years ago and even 5 years ago the requirements weren't as intense. There are currently 62 school districts in this state that have ADK as their primary kindergarten offering. THat means that 95%-100% of the kids enrolled are in ADK and while there are some cities on that list, a majority are smaller cities and towns like Hebron. There are also an additional 17 Charter and Magnet schools that offer it. 32 school districts offer ADK to some children which is where Hebron falls on the list, and there are 44 districts that offer only HDK.

Ok, I am going to stop typing - just wanted to get in my response!