Citizens Advisory Committee
Citizen Advisory Committee on Full-Day Kindergarten
Policy, P1502, provides guidance on the formation and staffing of a Citizen Advisory Committee. The School Committee approves all Citizen Advisory Committees for specific purposes. Since there are no standing Citizen Advisory Committees, the School Committee also votes to disband a Citizen Advisory Committee once its specific work has been completed.
The scope of work of the Citizen Advisory Committee on Full-Day Kindergarten will include the following:
- Analyze and summarize the available research on longitudinal achievement differentials between students in full-day versus half-day kindergarten and focusing on research involving students who represent a similar demographic to students in Westford.
- Clearly articulate the difference between the full-day curriculum vs. half-day curriculum. Additionally, the offering of art and music in full-day sessions will be analyzed.
- Survey parents and staff on the preference of either full-day or half-day kindergarten, and what they hope Full Day Kindergarten will provide.
- Provide an updated financial projection of the cost to implement full-day kindergarten and recommendations on how to fiscally accommodate a Full Day Kindergarten Program without impacting existing programs.
- Present the results of any research findings on the ability to identify and address social and enhanced development needs of children in full-day kindergarten programs.
- Identify and present various full-day kindergarten options with the educational and financial impacts of these models.
- Present an assessment of school facilities and capability to accommodate full-day kindergarten sessions.
- Conduct all meetings in compliance with School Committee Policy P1502.
The anticipated timeline of activities is presented below:
- July 2014 - August 2014 Solicit Citizen Advisory Committee members with diverse backgrounds
- August 2014 School Committee approval of the Citizen Advisory Committeeís scope of work and membership (including the chair of the Committee)
- August 2014 - January 2015 Citizen Advisory Committee conducts research and develops draft report
- February 2015 Final report issued to the School Committee
Resources:
Westford Public Schools will provide CAC members with access to any online or hardcopy reports/materials that may be beneficial to the work of the CAC.