Newton To Get Full Day Kindergarten In 2019

NEWTON, MA — It’s been a long time coming, but Newton Public Schools will be offering full day kindergarten starting next school year, the mayor and superintendent announced Tuesday.

“This represents a big step forward for our public schools. After years of discussion this is happening because of the hard work and commitment of the Newton Teachers Association, the School Department, the School Committee, and yes, the $1 million added to the school budget by my administration,” said Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in a statement.

In October, the mayor pledged the money for full-day kindergarten. An early estimate put salary and costs for additional classroom aides at as much as $1.3 million. It’s come up as a topic of discussion on School Committees since at least 2011.

“It has been a long anticipated move,” School Committee Chairwoman Ruth Goldman told Patch. “In the last couple of years we’ve had the right people in the right places to really put together a good program.”

Goldman said principals, kindergarten teachers and staff were “150 percent” behind the effort, especially championed by outgoing assistant superintendent Cynthia Paris and Central Administration’s Karen Shmukler, who have been passionate about how full day kindergarten could help the district close its achievement gap.

Last year the two helped the district piloted a “Get Ready For Kindergarten” two week summer program particularly targeted at low income and new to Newton families as well as the kids who haven’t had the opportunity to be in preschool in an effort to help them get ready for first grade as a step to that end, said Goldman.

“But full day really gives so much more flexibility to teachers,” she said.

The political will has been around, but the planning and the money just needed to fall into place.

Newton joins some 277 districts statewide that offer full day kindergarten.

Superintendent David Fleishman sent a letter to the community letting parents know that all Newton elementary schools will offer full day kindergarten in the ’19-’20 school year.

“We believe this change has tremendous benefits for both students and families and will provide the opportunity to improve our already strong kindergarten program,” he said in the message.

In September, all kindergarten students will follow the same schedule as other elementary students in grades 1 to 5, he said.

Fleishman stressed that the curriculum and goals of the extended kindergarten classes would continue to focus on supporting both the academic and social and emotional needs of students through a range of learning experiences.

“We will also maintain our commitment to small group instruction with a full-time teaching assistant in each kindergarten classroom to support both the teacher and students,” he said in the message.

A Kindergarten registration website will have more information as it becomes available, according to the superintendent.

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