“’Do I think it’s probably beneficial for a child? Probably not,’ said Rep. Kasha Kelley, chairwoman of the House Education Committee. . . .
All-day kindergarten advocates point to research showing that those students — who get three to four hours more of instruction — are higher achievers.
They learn language and math skills faster, are less likely to be held back and adapt quicker socially. . .
Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Republican, has volunteered in her daughter’s kindergarten class and believed kids in the half-day class were hurriedly pushed along.
‘We don’t want to rush these children through when we’re expecting our kindergartners to read and add and do more,’ she said. . .
Enrollment in all-day kindergarten in Kansas has increased 350 percent since 2000 to 33,559 students this year. Nearly 90 percent of all Kansas kindergarten students are in the all-day program. Just 30 percent were in 2000. . .
Brownback is counting on new growth to pay for the cost of all-day kindergarten, but Roesland PTA President Kellie Gillespie was skeptical.
‘I’m glad he came. I’m glad he talked to our students. I’m glad he met our teachers,’ Gillespie said. ‘I don’t have a lot of faith this is going to happen.’”
Read more here:http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/23/4772782/in-roeland-park-gov-sam-brownback.html#storylink=cpy