Clover Park Now Offers Full-Day Kindergarten at Greenwood, Lake Louise & Park Lodge

Thanks to increased funding from the state Legislature, Clover Park School District is now offering full-day kindergarten at Greenwood, Lake Louise and Park Lodge Elementary Schools for the 2013-14 school year.

CPSD already offers full-day kindergarten at Custer, Dower, Hillside, Lakeview, Oakwood, Southgate, Tillicum and Tyee Park Elementary Schools. During the first three days of school (Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 3-5), full-day kindergarten teachers will hold family connection conferences. Full-day kindergarten students begin attending school on Friday, Sept. 6.

The daily schedule is 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

 “Full-day kindergarten allows for increased instructional time which leads to improved student achievement,” said superintendent Debbie LeBeau. “In addition to reading, writing and math, students will also spend more time learning about science, social studies and the arts.”

The 2013-15 state biennial operating budget passed June 30 increased funding for the number of kindergarten students in the state to receive full-day kindergarten from 22 percent to more than 43 percent. State funding for full-day kindergarten focuses on schools with the highest number of students qualifying for free and reduced-priced lunches. The goal of the Legislature is to have all kindergarten classes funded for the full school day by the 2017-18 school year. 

To receive state funding, districts must participate in the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS). WaKIDS focuses on family connections with teachers, whole-child assessments and early learning collaboration among kindergarten teachers and early learning professionals. Full-day kindergarten teachers will contact families with kindergartners to schedule the family connections conferences.

Parents can contact their child’s school if they have any questions.

-Clover Park School District