Kindergartners in Huntley School District 158 will attend full-day classes beginning with the 2003-04 school year.
Supt. Stephen L. Swanson said plans are under way to put the curriculum together and to add classrooms to the district’s two elementary schools, Leggee and Chesak.
The Board of Education approved the schedule change in June.
“We will put a new curriculum together and have it before the board before the end of the current school year,” Swanson said.
“Construction on the new classrooms that will be needed should also start later this school year.”
The district has 460 kindergartners attending 24 sections in 12 classrooms. By the 2003-04 school year, the number of children is expected to jump to 682.
The number of classrooms that will be needed is being determined.
Schools across the country are shifting toward full-day kindergarten classes.
Terry Awrey, assistant superintendent for instructional support in District 158, said studies commissioned by the Illinois State Board of Education found that pupils in full-day programs showed increased reading readiness, greater social growth and had more opportunities for one-on-one instruction.
Because teachers have half as many pupils, they get to know the pupils and the parents better, Awrey said.
“A full-day program is much less hectic and teachers are better able to gear their lessons according to individual student needs,” Awrey said.
Illinois law requires the district to offer some half-day classes for parents who do not believe their children are ready for a full day, Swanson said.
Questionnaires will be distributed throughout the district to parents before a decision is made on the number of half-day classes.
“We’ll also have parent meetings because we want their input and want to know what they’re feeling,” Swanson said.
Full-day programs traditionally include a half day of core curriculum and a half day of enrichment based on ideas presented earlier in the day, Swanson said.
