CA Assembly Bill 197 will require ALL California schools to have full-day kindergarten (FDK). Communities will no longer have the option of offering half-day kindergarten (HDK), even if it's what families in that community want.
Research studies show that FDK can be academically beneficial, especially for children at high risk for dropping out of school. However, academic gains are much lower for low-risk children, especially when class sizes are large (25+).
Overcrowding is a serious problem in many CA schools, where student/teacher ratios reach 45:1. HDK programs provide equal academic benefits as FDK, plus long-term social and emotional benefits, due to smaller class sizes (half the kids of FDK). Forcing all schools to switch to FDK would cause many schools to offer a worse educational experience at a much higher financial cost.
Local school officials and parents should determine the best kindergarten program for their community, not the state. Choices should be available to meet the needs of all families. HDK gives low-risk children a quality education catered to their needs. They shouldn't suffer to meet the needs of high-risk children in other communities.
Even if you prefer FDK for your children, you can still support the rights of parents to choose HDK for their kids.
Say no to AB 197!
