FARMINGTON—Kindergarten can be exciting but also a little frightening for an incoming child going to school for the first time. For years, Utah children have gone to kindergarten for a half day. With the passage of SB127 during the last legislative session, schools can choose to offer full-day kindergarten. 

“We’ve been seeing signs in fourth grade that kids are struggling because they were in first grade during COVID,” said Traci Robbins, Elementary Director for Davis School District. “It’s a good time for full-day kindergarten. We’ve looked at the research. Four schools were in a pilot program last year. There was a big difference in kids who had full day going into first grade knowing their letters and sounds. They had more time to practice in full day.”

Robbins said the district had to determine what that would look like. “We wanted to build a robust, rigorous curriculum that would serve students but leave room for play and build the social and emotional skills that they need. Things like taking turns, learning to sit still, basic skills that can be built into the schedules as well as academics.”

Some parents were happy about full day and others didn’t want it, she said. “In our culture we tend to hold our children tight. Others had just been waiting for it.”

Individual schools can choose to offer half day for those parents who don’t want full day, said Robbins. “All the core curriculum will be taught in the morning so half day kids get it. They’ll still be getting the curriculum, those in full day will just be getting more exposure to it. It’s like if you practice the piano for 40 minutes you’re going to be better than if you only practice 20 minutes.”

There are still children who have separation anxiety and don’t want to comply, she said. “We saw it in first grade in full day too.”

Right now there are only two to four children in a class who are staying half day, Robbins said. “Teachers use TAs (teacher’s aide) to help at station rotation so that the teacher can support children in other content areas.”

Parents who are undecided or want a gradual release can let the principal know, she said. “We’ll watch. But it can’t be full day one day and then half the next.”

Out of 162 classrooms of full day in the district, only nine are half day, said Robbins. “It’s driven by parent preference. We want to provide for a part time option.”

Robbins said the district received a grant that allowed every kindergarten teacher to select furniture for their classroom. “They can get a play kitchen, table, theater, etc. that is somewhat structured and can be redirected if needed.”

One teacher created discovery boxes, she said. “She had puzzles, Legos, paper and crayons, trucks, sand toys, dolls, etc. During free time three kids could be at a box. The next day they had to choose something they didn’t do the day before to develop skills along with academic learning.”

It provided free choice, Robbins said. “Kids are taught to follow directions, clean up, put away all of the boxes and say to each other ‘thank you for playing with me.’”

At first some teachers were resistant to full day, she said. “They said they couldn’t handle more than a half day. Once they started they became believers because they can go deeper.”

Robbins said they don’t want it to be first grade. “We want them to have standard proficiency and make sure that is solid. It’s brain to hand to page. That’s a difficult task for kids that age.”

Some families absolutely love it, she said. “But for some families they feel like it is too soon. They want to do dance class in the afternoon or go to the library. Those are all wonderful. If they’re providing experiences for their children it is going to be wonderful.”

It’s a personal choice, said Robbins. “We’ve been doing half day for years and they’re alright. Parents worry their kids are going to be behind. If they can learn they’re going to be fine. We’re not worried about it. Generally speaking it’s going to be great for kids.”