ACS Shorter-Day Kindergarten Option
Asheville City Schools is considering extending the school day by 30 minutes starting in the 2015-2016 school year. As it is, the day is extremely long for Kindergarteners. Many are left so exhausted there is little energy left for extra curricular or family activities. Many families feel it is not appropriate or in the best interest of their child and family for their rising Kindergartener to be in school for even longer. So, we propose allowing parents of Kindergarteners the option of picking up their children around 1:00, after all core subjects have been taught and after children have attended specials, recess, and lunch. In this case, children will still have a 5 hour school day, which is still considered "full-day" Kindergarten. Parents who would like to provide their children with family learning opportunities or extra curricular activities outside of the classroom would now have time to do so in the afternoons without overwhelming their child. In addition, the teachers and the students remaining in class will benefit from the 2 hours of smaller-class size in the afternoons - allowing more small group and independent instruction to students who stay for the entire day. An optional parent pick-up at 1:00 (after all necessary instruction is complete) allows maximum enrichment opportunities for all students, while keeping their development in mind.
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