Starting this fall, kindergartners in the Oxford School District will follow an all-day/alternate day (ADAD) schedule instead of the half-day/every day they now attend.
School board members unanimously approved the switch at their meeting last Tuesday night.
‘We’re very excited,? said Jim Schwarz, director of curriculum for Oxford schools. ‘The teachers are looking forward to the non-rushed day.?
Kindergartners will be on a two and a half day schedule, either a full day on Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday, and a half-day on Friday. Each child’s schedule will depend on where they live in the district.
A committee formed by elementary principals, kindergarten teachers and parents was established back in January to visit different schools using the ADAD program before informing parents about the benefits of the program. Flexible lesson plans, more reached state benchmarks and a savings in transportation were some of the benefits they found. Schwarz said it costs the district a little over $100,000 to run buses at noon five days a week. The ADAD schedule would only need noon transportation on Fridays.
Feedback from parents has been positive, according to Schwarz. He’s even had parents ask about when the district will switch to an all-day/every day kindergarten program, but said that won’t be anytime soon. ‘We don’t have the space or finances for that right now,? he said.
A traditional kindergarten program will be held at Lakeville Elementary for those parents who refuse to participate in the ADAD program, however, there will need to be a minimum of 24 students per class to operate.
Out of the 28 school districts in Oakland County, seven follow an ADAD program, including Brandon, Rochester, Holly, Huron Valley, Lake Orion, South Lyon and Walled Lake.
Kindergarten registration will be held Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m.at your local elementary school. More information on the ADAD program will be available for those parents who did not attend the informational meetings.
Incoming kindergartners must bring a birth certificate, immunization records, vision screening results and two proofs of residency to register.