Starting in the fall of 2019, the Caldwell School District will offer free full-time kindergarten for all eligible students. 
 

We currently offer full time kindergarten for all students at two of our elementary schools.

 

Superintendent N. Shalene French said "As we compare academic results of students attending full time with students attending half time kindergarten, the difference is clear -- more time receiving quality instruction means more learning.These results are challenging us to make good on our commitment to equity and access for all students. We believe our youngest learners have greatly benefit from participating in full time kindergarten."

This opportunity is made possible due to the Idaho Legislator’s support of Governor Brad Little’s proposal to double the investment in early learning. I believe that if a child starts ahead -- has access to quality educational experiences at an early age -- s/he will stay ahead as they travel along their educational journey. We often talk of academic measures and the importance this plays in the decisions we make.

 

However, Dr. French said, there is another extremely important aspect of education that impacts a child’s learning; a child’s belief in him/herself. Through our many conversations, we have evidence that our full day Kindergarten students have demonstrated growth in their level of confidence, perseverance, and self-efficacy.

We have partnered with experts at the Lee Pesky Center to provide support for our teachers and our parents to prepare for this change. We will also be working with parents who are concerned about their five-year-old child attending school all day. There will be options for parents who would prefer their child attend half day.

The Caldwell School District Board of Trustees set a goal to improving early literacy so our students are ready by third grade to shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Adding a half year of school for our youngest learners, will be impactful.