Full-Day Kindergarten Forums Set for Nov. 30, Dec. 2

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202

District 202 will host two community forums to share information about its full-day kindergarten program that will be implemented next school year.

The forums will both be from 6:30-8 p.m.:

· Monday, November 30, 2015 – Ira Jones Middle School, 15320 Wallin Drive, Plainfield

· Wednesday, December 2, 2015 -- Aux Sable Middle School, 2001 Wildspring Parkway, Joliet

The forums are free. Community members can attend either or both. The forums will also be recorded and posted on a special “Full Day Kindergarten” link posted on the front page of the web sites for all 17 District 202 elementary schools, the Bonnie McBeth Learning Center and the District 202.

The forums are part of the district’s comprehensive communications plan to publicize the full-day kindergarten program, including a mass mailing, special web site, and telephone and email messages to the community.

District 202 currently offers half-day kindergarten. The district does not have enough room in its schools nor can it afford to hire enough staff to offer full-day kindergarten for all students following 10 years of tremendous growth in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

However, full-day kindergarten was identified as a top priority in 2011 as part of the district’s current five-year Strategic Plan, so district officials decided to implement a limited program in 2016-17. Work to develop the initiative has been ongoing for three years.

The 2016-17 pilot full-day kindergarten initiative will serve one classroom of 24 students at each of the district’s 17 elementary schools.

Students will be picked through a computerized, random, online lottery in early February 2016.

Meanwhile, district officials will continue to study options to expand full-day kindergarten to all students in the near future.