Study meeting focuses on kindergarten Study meeting focuses on kindergarten (March 23, 2005)

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

A study of three different kindergarten programs in the Menlo Park City School District and a look at "best practices" for teaching early learners is the topic of a study session of the school board set for Thursday, March 24.

Parents and teachers are invited to offer comments at the 7 p.m. meeting in the Hillview School library, located at 1100 Elder Ave. in Menlo Park.

Many districts are changing their kindergarten programs in response to two factors: increased state academic standards for kindergarteners, and parents' interest in a longer school day, said Superintendent Ken Ranella. There also is concern that time devoted to kindergarten instruction be the same at each school site.

Mr. Ranella expects a diversity of opinions at the study session, but he said a board decision will not be made at the meeting.

Reports will be presented, and discussion might lead to development of an action plan for presentation at the board's April 14 meeting, said Mr. Ranella.

The kindergarten study was launched last year by the district to evaluate the different kindergarten programs at Laurel and Oak Knoll schools, including the district's pilot program: its first all-day kindergarten at Oak Knoll.

Laurel's kindergartens are based on the "early bird, late bird" model, with children arriving at staggered times, but coming together as a group for activities in the midmorning. The hours basically are 8:15 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. for the early group, and 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for the later group.

Oak Knoll's traditional kindergarten program is from 8:10 a.m. to 11:55 a.m., but a small group of children stay at school longer on certain days.

The pilot all-day kindergarten at Oak Knoll runs from 8:10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., when students in grades 1 and 2 also are dismissed. So many parents supported the longer day that an additional all-day class was added before school started.

The study session is an opportunity to make sure that parents, teachers, staff and board members have the same information and are "on the same page," said board President Carol Orton.

The challenge is to figure out the best instructional practices for the district, and what is in the best interest of the kids, said Mr. Ranella.

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