Cranston to Pilot All-Day K in Three Schools this Fall

After years of trying to get all-day kindergarten off the ground in Cranston, it looks like the district is finally about to launch a pilot program that would bring four programs to three city schools this fall.

Parents of children in the three schools received letters over the weekend inviting them to a work session Monday night to learn more about the proposal.

The meeting will be held at the Cranston High School East library media center at 6 p.m.

In the letter, Cranston Superintendent Judith Lundsten said that the pilot programs would be available “pending approval of the governor’s proposed budget.”

The superintendent said in an interview that the three schools are Orchard Farms, Chester Barrows and Edward S. Rhodes Elementary Schools.

Governor Gina Raimondo has proposed funding the implementation of all-day kindergarten across all Rhode Island communities by 2016.

Lundsten said the goal of the pilot program is to “iron out the kinks” and prepare for the planned rollout of all-day kindergarten at all city elementary schools in the fall of 2016 so long as the Governor’s proposals remain intact or not significantly altered by the General Assembly.

This story was updated at 6:34 p.m. It may be updated again.