A closer look at full-day kindergarten and academic outcomes

Full-day kindergarten makes no difference in academic outcomes tracked over several years, reveals a University of Manitoba study. The uManitoba research team has studied full-day kindergarten in the Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine and in the schools with full-day kindergarten at St. James-Assiniboia School Division. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy Senior Scientist Marni Brownell says results still to be published show that not only was there no difference in academic outcomes for students in full-day compared to half-day kindergarten by grade 3 and beyond, there was also no shrinkage of the achievement gap between students from lower and higher socioeconomic backgrounds. "There's lots of research that full-day kindergarten has an effect in getting kids ready for Grade 1," says Brownell. "The literature shows that full-day kindergarten may not be the best program for longer-term improvements or for closing the gap.” Winnipeg Free Press