Dysart will continue full-day K

The Dysart Unified School District will continue to offer full-day kindergarten to its students in the 2009-10 school year, regardless of upcoming budget cuts from the Arizona Legislature.

Because of a voter passed override, Dysart can continue full-day kindergarten for at least one more year.

In 2004, the community approved a K-3 override which provided funding for full-day kindergartenw and to support enhancements to the K-3 reading program focusing on early intervention.

After the override was approved, the Arizona Legislature began funding full-day kindergarten, allowing Dysart, as stated in the voter pamphlet, to utilize the override funds to establish a K-3 reading initiative, called Read to Succeed, to improve reading instruction to primary students.

Read to Succeed has led to dramatic increases in young students' reading abilities as well as receiving the Spotlight on Success Award from the Arizona Department of Education. If the Arizona Legislature were to decide to cut funding for full-day kindergarten due to the state budget deficit, Dysart would once again utilize the K-3 override funds to provide full-day kindergarten to its community.

The Dysart K-3 override's full funding will expire at the completion of the 2009-2010 school year, impacting district funding available for full day kindergarten and the reading initiative.

Expanding to full-day kindergarten in combination with the Read to Succeed program has resulted in great gains in primary students' reading achievement.

"The combination of the expanded kindergarten program with the reading initiative has given our primary students tremendous success as they begin their educational experience. Having these two programs working simultaneously is a true benefit for the students in Dysart," said Dysart superintendent Dr. Gail Pletnick.

The Dysart School District, like all others throughout the state, is awaiting next year's budget from the Arizona Legislature. Dysart has been preparing for upcoming budget cuts and is hopeful to continue these two successful programs.