CHAFFEE EXPANDS KINDERGARTEN THANKS TO NEW LAW

CHAFFEE -- Kindergarteners, starting their first day at Chaffee public schools Monday, will be attending classes all day, thanks to Missouri's new school funding and reform law.

The Outstanding Schools Act, also known as Senate Bill 380, makes it profitable for school districts to expand their kindergarten programs.

Superintendent Wayne Pressley explained that kindergarteners at Chaffee in the past attended half a day of school because the state would fund only half a day, regardless of how many hours the student attended class.

Under the new law, the state pays for a full day if kindergarten students attend a full-day program.

"We're really excited about all the things we will be able to provide," Pressley.

"Is this a result of the Outstanding Schools Act? Exactly. We wouldn't have been able to do it without it," Pressley said.

In fact, Pressley said, if all goes as projected over the four years of implementation of the new law, Chaffee will be a winner with an increase in state funding.

"There are some other programs that will be coming up that will be tied to Senate Bill 380," Pressley said. "Right now we are looking at other provisions of the Outstanding Schools Act, especially in regard to expanded opportunities for professional development for our staff."

Kindergarten programs, for the most part, have been half-day programs. Some districts have offered full-day kindergarten as a way to save bus transportation costs.

But, Pressley said, "Districts without other resources provided a half day program. Now the state will pay for a kindergartener the same as first-grader or sophomore."

That added money was enough to prompt Chaffee officials to expand their program.

"We have a room available so we will have two kindergarten classes this year, both all day," Pressley said.

"In the past, students lost some in-class time when they attend PE, art and music. Now we can offer those classes and have additional time for instruction," he said.

"We really feel comfortable that these kids are ready for a full day of classes," he said.

"Times have changed. When I started school they didn't even have kindergarten."

Now many children are involved in day care and pre-school situations at a young age.

"There are a lot of academic readiness things kindergarteners are doing. Some will be reading when they leave kindergarten," Pressley said.

The superintendent said Chaffee is lucky that is has space to expand its programs. Others do not.