Kindergarten is far more than learning A,B,Cs and 1,2,3s.
Full-day kindergarten seems like a common sense investment in a child’s start in education in order to
give them the best chance of success later in life. It’s a no-brainer to give their young brains the
best possible start.
Finally, it is expected that every school district in Wood County will be making that initial investment
in hopes of getting the highest returns later.
As of last fall, all but two school districts in the county already offered all-day kindergarten classes.
Only Bowling Green and Lake were not on board with the all-day kindergarten plan.
But since then, Bowling Green Board of Education took the steps to offer all-day classes starting this
fall. And tonight, Lake Board of Education is expected to approve the same investment.
Our interest at the Sentinel-Tribune in the issue was piqued last year when a group of retired
kindergarten teachers from the Bowling Green district came in and asked to talk about the value of more
classroom hours for the youngest students. The seven teachers, with a combined 151 years of teaching
kindergarten, had nothing to gain by the extension of kindergarten days, but had a lot to offer in years
of experience.
"Kindergarten is no longer just about learning to share, to count and to name the letters and sounds
of the alphabet," they wrote in a letter to the editor. "Time is needed to explore social
studies and science in depth, to work with small groups or beginning readers and writers, coaching
individuals to be successful."
Being in the classroom just 2.5 hours a day barely gives the students time to settle in, the teachers
said.
The retired teachers’ opinions are backed up by the National Education Association, which has stated that
all-day kindergarten can produce long-term educational gains, especially for low-income and minority
students. Teachers have more time to get to know the children and identify their learning challenges
early on. And an early investment in children’s social, emotional and intellectual skills means less
chances that children will have to be held back a grade or drop out later in school.
Sounds like a no-brainer.
But the price tag was still holding back two districts from offering all-day kindergarten.
Bowling Green Superintendent Ann McVey estimated it would cost her district about $225,000 a year to
offer all-day classes. But the cost of not providing the extended days has since convinced the board to
approve the expenditure.
"Double the time of the contact with teachers will increase achievement," McVey said.
For Lake School District, the cost is estimated around $100,000 a year. The district had offered the
classes in the past and found that students were much further ahead of those who had attended half-day
classes in previous years. However, Lake cut back to every other day kindergarten in 2012 after voters
rejected two levies in 2011 and left the district with a $1.1 million deficit.
But last week, Lake Superintendent Jim Witt explained the plan to move back to all-day everyday classes.

"We have evidence that shows it is the best practice for kids, and we think we owe it to our
kindergarten students to offer the best possible program for our students," Witt said.
Regardless of how one feels about standardized testing, the extended early classes will help students do
better on the high-stakes third-grade reading and math tests.
Otsego School District started all-day kindergarten this school year and is already seeing positive
results.
"Now the content is so much further along than it was last year," elementary principal Betsey
Murry said last year.
"When kids get to first grade, they can pick up the curriculum faster."
Elmwood has been offering all-day kindergarten since 1992. The elementary principal explained that
children are now expected to read by the time they leave kindergarten. Without the extra classroom time,
that is just not possible.
The extended class also helps youngsters develop social interaction and verbal skills.
"Whatever the cost, it’s well worth it," former Elmwood Principal Michelle Tuite said.
It’s a no-brainer to make an early investment in the youngest brains. And by next school year, every
district in Wood County will be on board.