Parents will be given an additional option for kindergartners this fall at select District 203 elementary schools.
Kindergartners at Ellsworth, Elmwood, Beebe, Naper, Mill, River Woods and Scott will have the option to attend school all day.
These Title One schools have “more than the district average of 13 percent of their students receiving free or reduced price lunches,” according to the Naperville Sun.
All-day kindergarten will allow students “the best possible opportunity to achieve the District 203 mission,” according to a District 203 presentation at Jan. 7 board meeting.
Total contact minutes per day will increase from 150 minutes to 350 minutes. Exposure to literacy, math, science, social studies, art, music and physical education will also increase significantly, according to the presentation.
Estimated construction costs for the new program include a $300,000 Ellsworth remodel and $1,002,500 Naper remodel.
The total projected cost for all schools is $1,272,550, including start up costs, operating costs, general state aid and current extensions.
As seen in this gallery, Kindergarteners are at work during school time. Next year, parents will have the option to enroll their children in all day Kindergarten.
