Written by Andrew Melin, Superintendent
The Valparaiso Community Schools board recently approved offering students a full-day kindergarten opportunity beginning with the 2011-12 school year. This is exciting for our educational staff and our parents as we strive to meet expanding curriculum expectations as well as try to provide more time to meet individual student needs.
The School Board and administrative team have developed an implementation plan that will allow all kindergarten students to stay in their home schools and choose whether they want to enroll in a half-day or full-day kindergarten program. Each kindergarten parent can choose whether a half-day or a full-day program is best for his/her child. The half-day program will be morning only and run from 8:45 to 11:15 each day. From a curriculum perspective, our current half-day kindergarten curriculum that primarily focuses on language arts and math skills will be followed. Upon half-day dismissal at 11:15 a.m., busing for students may be provided depending on the number of half-day students enrolled who reside outside of walking areas. The full-day program will continue until 3:15 p.m. providing additional instruction in social studies, science and health. In addition, full-day students will have some time each week for art, music, and physical education.
As excited as our educational staff is to offer the full-day kindergarten option, it is important to note that we believe there is a need to charge tuition for students to enroll in full-day kindergarten. The reason for the tuition is the state does not currently provide full funding support for kindergarten students. Each school system receives only half funding for each kindergarten student. The state has also provided an additional sum per full-day kindergarten student through a full-day kindergarten grant, but that amount, combined with regular kindergarten funding, still falls short of fully funding each student. Gov. Mitch Daniels and our state Legislature recently increased the amount of the grant significantly, but that amount still falls short of full funding; therefore, to assure full-day kindergarten costs are covered, we need to charge tuition next year for each full-day kindergarten student. Our initial projection, subject to change as we receive more information from the state, is tuition will be $350 per student. For those families who need it, a payment plan can be arranged, and tuition will be waived for those families that qualify for free or reduced lunch. Additional information related to free/reduced lunch qualifications can be found on our website at www.valpo.k12.in.us. Student fees for all kindergarten students will be a one-time charge of $30.64 payable at registration in August.
Although official enrollment for kindergarten will take place during registration in August, in order to be properly prepared for next school year, letters have been mailed to every kindergarten family asking them to identify their preference regarding half-day or full-day kindergarten. We have requested families respond by June 24 via mail or email. Stacey Schmidt, executive director of elementary education, is responsible for implementing our new kindergarten program. Parents can contact her via email at sschmidt@valpo.k12.in.us or by phone (219) 531-3000 with questions.