Plan to Add 'All-Day K' Next Year Announced by Superintendent

It would appear that all-day kindergarten in Barrington will not happen until next September, 2014. A mid-year implementation in the upcoming school year was seen as a possibility, although not a high priority, several months ago.

Barrington Superintendent Michael Messore announced this morning, Aug. 19, a plan by the School Committee for an All-day Kindergarten Task Force with a goal of implementing the program by the 2014-2015 school year.

The Task Force will develop an implementation plan and provide a report to the School Committee on a regular basis during the 2013-2014 academic year, Messore said in a press release.

Here is the complete announcement:

“The Barrington School Committee supports the implementation of an All Day Kindergarten program in the Barrington Public Schools as an appropriate response to the increased expectations and higher standards for learning as defined by the internationally benchmarked Common Core State Standards Initiative and as a foundation for learning in the K-12 curricula. Dr. Robert Shea, Chair, Barrington School Committee, noted that "The Barrington School Committee is committed to providing opportunities to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical developmental needs of all students. Implementation of an All Day Kindergarten program will not only offer educators the time necessary to meet the increased expectations of the Common Core State Standards, but will empower our youngest learners by setting a solid foundation for well-being and success."

“The All Day Kindergarten program has been defined as a priority for the FY 2014-2015 Operating Budget for the Barrington Public Schools, with the program initiation goal date of September, 2014. Superintendent Michael B. Messore III will convene a Task Force to develop an implementation plan and will provide a report to the School Committee on a regular basis during the 2013-2014 academic year.”

“The School Committee and district leadership are committed to supporting students to the fullest extent possible within the current half day program. Superintendent Messore and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Paula Dillon recently provided the School Committee with an update relative to the ongoing district work creating opportunities for additional support for educators and students in the half day kindergarten program during the 2013–2014 school year.

Parents of incoming kindergarten students will have an opportunity to learn about the collaborative district supports during K-3 Open House Programs in September and during Informational Forums that will be coordinated by the Task Force in the upcoming academic year.” 

“Rhode Island is one of 45 states in the country that have adopted the Common Core State Standards that guide both curriculum and assessments and provide consistent, clearly defined expectations for K-12 student learning in English Language Arts and Mathematics at every grade level. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practice and the Council of Chief State School Officers were partners in initiating the Common Core State Standards. The Standards were written by 50 distinguished English Language Arts Educators and 51 distinguished Mathematics educators; specific author/educator references may be found on the Barrington Public Schools website (www.barringtonschools.org).

“The Common Core State Standards were written by building on the best and highest state standards in existence in the U.S., examining the expectations of other high performing countries around the world, and careful study of the research and literature available on what students need to know and be able to do to be successful in college and careers.” (www.corestandards.org).

“The Common Core is not a passing fad. David Coleman, current President and CEO of the College Board which runs the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program has declared that the SAT and the AP Program will be aligned with the Common Core. It is reported that the ACT will also be aligned with the Common Core. Commissioner Gist and the Rhode Island Department of Education have made clear that All-Day Kindergarten is an appropriate response to the increased expectations of the Common Core.”

“Mr. Messore reiterated his earlier support for the program as follows: ‘As Superintendent of the Barrington Public Schools, I fully support an All-Day Kindergarten program for our community. The implementation of new Common Core Standards has set high learning standards for student achievement. A full-day program will benefit our kindergarten students by providing them with the additional instructional time needed to build a strong foundation for their future success’.”