UCS implements all day kindergarten for 2012-2013

Utica Community Schools will implement full-day kindergarten at all of its 25 elementary schools, beginning with the 2012-2013 year.

The full-day kindergarten, approved unanimously by the Board of Education Jan. 23, will further position students to take advantage of the wide array of educational options available in Utica Community Schools, district officials said.

“This is a community that truly values education and has become increasingly interested in this educational option for their students,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “The full day kindergarten program will play a critical role for our students as they begin to experience the college culture in our schools and will help instill an early love of learning.”

More information about kindergarten programs will be available to parents at Kindergarten Open House, scheduled for 7 p.m. on February 15 at all of its 25 elementary schools.  Information about the open houses is available on the district and each school Web site under the “It All Starts Here” icon.

In addition to the full-day programs, UCS will also expand a Montessori-based to a full-day program at Messmore Elementary and continue to provide a Mandarin/Chinese Immersion program at Oakbrook Elementary.

The full-day recommendation follows a committee study this year on the impact of full-day options in Utica Community Schools. The full day program will also mean expanded access in the areas of art, media center, music, and physical education.

The committee, which created the motto “Building a Strong Foundation Today for a Successful Tomorrow,” identified four key goals in preparing its findings for the Board of Education:

• Provide universal access to UCS students for full day kindergarten.
• Improve children’s overall development as lifelong learners.
• Provide teacher-directed instruction in a child-centered environment
• Establish a strong foundation to improve the academic, social, emotional and developmental growth of the child

Robert Monroe, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said the committee’s research demonstrated that a full day program will have a direct impact on student achievement.

“Full day kindergarten will provide early support for academic success, attendance, oral language development, and the successful transition into first grade programs,” he said.

In addition, kindergarten students entering UCS schools this fall will be the first class totally immersed in Common Core State Standards. The standards, approved by the Michigan Department of Education in June 2010, reflect specific K-12 benchmarks established nationally that reflect a greater emphasis on college and career readiness.

For more information on UCS kindergarten options, please visit follow this link