Oregon Live – Betsy Hammond
“Oregon schools are delivering a massive new dose of early childhood education this fall: Full-day kindergarten, available to just 42 percent of 5-year-olds last year, will reach virtually every kindergartner in the state. In many districts, including Hillsboro, North Clackamas, Salem and Eugene, the change is astounding. Last year, nearly every kindergarten class in those districts lasted two hours and 45 minutes. Now, every single one will run all day. The change is one Oregon educators advocated for years, citing Oregon’s stubbornly low rate of third-graders who can read at grade level – just 66 percent in 2013 and 2014 – and a growing body of research about brain development in young children. The Legislature’s decision earlier this year to cover the $110 million yearly cost prompted school districts to create more than 1,000 new full-day kindergarten classes this year.”(more)