North Penn To Implement Full Day Kindergarten

LANSDALE, PA — At a School Board meeting Thursday night, North Penn agreed to implement full day kindergarten at all 13 of its elementary schools beginning next school year, 2019-2020.

The landmark decision is a reflection of changing education standards, North Penn said.

"Establishing a full-day kindergarten program is something that administration has been looking at for several years now," the school district wrote on its website. "The half-day kindergarten model that NPSD currently uses gives our youngest learners less than three hours of instruction per day. We need to make sure our teachers have the time and resources necessary to reach and teach every child."

Some further factors contributing to the decision:

• Pennsylvania Core Standards emphasizing more difficult schoolwork earlier in a child's scholastic career
• Ensuring all students are prepared to read well by third grade
• Improve social and emotional learning

2019-20 kindergarten registration dates for North Penn are as follows early next year: February 25, 26, and 27, and March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, and 28.

Image via North Penn School District