On Monday, May 17, 2010, the Westport, CT Board of Education (BOE) will consider and vote on a motion to establish 5 full-day kindergarten beginning in September 2010. Currently, kindergarteners attend school 1/2 days on Mondays and Fridays, and full days on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

The school district and school administrators claim this change will give children continuity and allow teachers additional one-on-one time with children learning to read and acquire early math skills.

Parents who have experienced the 3 full-day program assert that this is a push to establish a 1st grade curriculum in kindergarten and that children are so tired they are unable to function after a long day at school. Furthermore, kindergarteners will be robbed of unstructured time in the afternoons to explore outside interests and to simply have time to be 5 year olds developing their imaginations and having fun.

Please sign this petition asking the BOE to vote AGAINST establishing 5 full-day kindergarten in Westport and consider attending the BOE meeting on May 17 to express your views.