Survey to Gather Opinions on Full-Day K
Ridgewood NJ , The Full-day Kindergarten Exploratory Committee will seek residents’ input via an online community survey, opening January 4. All residents are invited and encouraged to participate. Click here for more information and to view the postcard that will be mailed to all residents.
The Full-day Kindergarten Exploratory Committee now has a folder on the Curriculum web page. Click here to go directly to the folder, which contains reports done by demographer Ross Haber.
The teachers union (NEA) recognizes that full-day kindergarten programs close achievement gaps between young children from minority and low-income families and their peers. By providing a solid foundation of learning to children from all backgrounds, full-day kindergarten programs ensure all students’ academic, social, and emotional success.( https://www.nea.org/home/11541.htm )
Be wary of mandating full-day kindergarten
A petition circulating throughout many school districts asks residents to support the extension of the kindergarten program from a half-day program to a full-day one. While no one disputes the advantages and positive impact of early childhood education, those supporting this endeavor are trying to pull the wool over the taxpayers’ eyes by minimizing the cost of their new program.
Efforts to make full-day kindergarten a state mandate by state law stalled because Gov. Christie understands that whatever the state mandates, the state must then pay for. Recently, he vetoed a bill that would create a task force to study issues related to the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
In his veto message, Gov. Christie stated, “Further, while the Department of Education is ready, willing, and able to assist districts in implementing a full-day program, the decision of whether to offer a full-day program should reside with local boards of education and their constituents.”
Since the decision on the extension of full-day kindergarten was not “solved” in one fell swoop, each district remains free to decide for itself what it would like to do. In this respect, a district-wide vote on a referendum of this nature represents the purest form of democracy.
https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/opinion/readers/2014/05/31/kindergarten-private/9779899/
It comes down to who is going to pay for a glorified full time baby sitting service?
This has just got to Stop
Oh let’s double the Taxes on homes give everybody what they want and see what happens to home values..enough is enough
Private pre K school avail to the spenders in this town
Thats all it is – a full day babysitting service. Not many stay home with their children anymore. Its the expensive day care or full day kindergarten…..
We’re way behind the times on this one and FDK will happen one way or another.
Behind the times? What exactly does that mesn? Sounds like “everyone else has it”.
Urban areas need preschool for two meals a day, safety and health services. Kids in Ridgewood do not need this. They need babysitting. There are lots of services to choose from.
We cannot afgord a permanent solution to someone’s temporary problem.
Teacher salaries and benefits are expensive.
These are the folks with second homes in spring lake crying with two loaves under each arm..no thanks we have more than enough Union pensions and Gold plated health care to Pay ad Finitum you suck it up for kindi half year
Put it to a vote
Paul, that has not worked out so well in past as most working families are chained to employers desks until 7 pm to pay their bills and enormous VOR RUNAWAY TAXES FEES PERMITS PARKING PASSES @750 per.
Polls open at 6am. I’m chained too but can cast my vote before trudging to the city.
we need a full day of indoctrination