Action Alert: Optional Extended-Day Kindergarten

In 2007 the Legislature authorized a four-year Optional Extended-Day Kindergarten (OEK) pilot program that sunsets in 2011. Only schools with the highest percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch have been able to offer the pilot program. An assessment is given to students prior to the school year and the parents of children who are deemed at risk of reading failure are given the option of enrolling their child in the extended day class. This year over 8,000 Utah students opted into the extended-day kindergarten (around 18% of kindergartners) and 58% were considered at risk for reading failure at the beginning of the school year. 

Reports have consistently shown that OEK benefits the entire student population and not just students attending OEK.

• Of the 35% of children who were the most at risk for falling behind only 13% were still in the most at risk category at the end of the year.
• On average, OEK classrooms gained 54% points over the school year and non-OEK gained only 35% points.
• Statewide, on average, OEK students surpassed the achievement of non-OEK students at the end of the year.

Initial data also shows that gains made in kindergarten have a significant impact on future performance.

• Children who attended OEK in the Jordan School District outperformed non-OEK students from the end of kindergarten through 2nd grade.
• Granite School District has data showing that children who attended OEK generally out-performed non-OEK children through the 1st grade.
• Data from the Salt Lake School District shows that OEK children continue to make gains through the 3rd grade relative to non-OEK children.

Please call members of the Public Education Appropriations Committee and ask them to:

• Continue to invest $7.5 million in the optional extended-day kindergarten program.
• It is a critical program that helps close the achievement gap and ensures that all Utah students start school ready to learn.
• This program has proven, lasting results.

If you would like to read more you can review Voices for Utah Children’s fact sheet before making your ask.

Below are the Committee members and their email addresses.  You can also reach out over the phone. For Representatives call 801-538-1029 and ask to be connected to the Representative you are calling. For Senators call 801-538-1035 and ask to be connected to the Senator you are calling.

Representatives:

Senators:

Please let Elizabeth Garbe, elizabeth@uw.org know if you receive any feedback.