Nationwide, in 1993, we had 54 percent of all kindergarten teachers in the country teaching full-day kindergarten. In Maryland today, we have about 33 percent of kindergarten teachers teaching full day. We're way below the national average. The effects range even beyond performance in first grade, she said. Other studies have shown that full-day kindergarten makes a difference in fewer children being retained in grades later on, and fewer children getting referred to special education classes.
Parents see the benefits.
So do the teachers. Stephanie Brocato teaches first grade at Germantown Elementary and has about five of last year's full-day kindergarten students in her class this year. They were tired, but not as tired as the other kids. And they're better prepared. They are more confident when they sit down to write something.