Royal Oak to Offer All-Day Kindergarten Districtwide

The Royal Oak school district will offer all-day kindergarten at all six of its elementary schools beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Currently, just and  elementary schools offer the all-day program.

The approved a resolution to provide all-day kindergarten during its meeting Thursday night.

More districts are switching to full-day kindergarten because of changes in school budgets and mandated school curriculum. For example, the Troy School District starting with the next school year. and also plan to make the move from half days to full days for kindergartners.

Royal Oak's decision was based on analysis of data regarding student learning in all-day kindergarten, as well as input from parent surveys conducted during the district's kindergarten welcome nights in December, the district said in a statement.

"We are pleased to be moving forward with all-day kindergarten," Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin said. "The teachers in each of our buildings are eager for the extended time such a format offers our students for increased social and academic growth."

Additional information is available at the district's website, royaloakschools.com.