Rhode Island lawmakers are considering a bill that would mandate all-day kindergarten statewide.
More than half of Rhode Island students currently have the opportunity to attend kindergarten all day.
It's been found to be beneficial.
"The more hours that you have that are effectively used with a high-quality, full-day kindergarten program, the more opportunities there are for that early literacy and early numeracy that children are learning and growing in those kindergarten programs," said Elizabeth Burke Bryant of Kids Count.
Most people want to give their children the opportunity to learn more and be better prepared for first grade.
"The desire of parents in the community and the knowledge of how much it brings, of course, as you say, they want to make it work. It's just a question of putting the funding in place for it," Bryant said.
And that's where the Legislature comes in.
A bill requiring all school districts to offer full-day kindergarten is co-sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Roberto DaSilva of East Providence.
DaSilva said the new school funding formula that allocates $8,600 per student will make it affordable for all communities.
"Right now, with this funding formula in place, there is really no good reason to not have all-day K all the way across the board," DaSilva said. "You're doing a disservice not only to your children but to your taxpayers by not going with a full-day K."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement