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4-K may be coming to Madison soon
School board to hear plans Feb. 2
Officials are expected to present initial plans to implement 4-year-old kindergarten in Madison Metropolitan District Schools at a Madison School Board committee meeting on Feb. 2.
Assistant Superintendent Sue Abplanalp said no action will be taken at the meeting, but potential next steps will be outlined and board members will be asked for approval in continuing the planning process.
Abplanalp, who has been working on the 4-K project for the seven years since joining the district as lead elementary principal, said there isn't a timetable in place as to when the program would start.
But she wouldn't count out the 2009-10 school year if three main issues can be ironed out.
"Could we get things in place by the fall? We think we could if we got the go-ahead," Abplanalp said Thursday afternoon. "If not, it's because we have issues to work out contractually with MTI (the teacher's union). ... We also have to work out community site issues, negotiating (contract) issues and financial issues."
Nearly 75 percent of districts (319 of 426) in the state now provide this early education option to 33,976 students. A total of 37 districts implemented 4-K programs started 4-year-old kindergarten programs during the 2008-09 school year, marking a 22.4 percent increase, according to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.
But families in the Madison Metropolitan School District still await the program. Many leaders within the Madison Metropolitan School District, including former Superintendent Art Rainwater and current Superintendent Dan Nerad, are advocates of 4-K. Nerad, who joined the district in July 2008, has named the addition of 4-K to the district among his objectives.
Board President Arlene Silveira said she was eager to hear the plans and realized the widespread interest the community has in adding 4K to the district's curriculum.
"Oh my gosh, everyone wants 4K," Silveira said. "We certainly see the value of 4K and the community has been very clear about their desire to have a 4-year-old kindergarten program. We understand that.
"The first hurdle is financial, so we're evaluating what that really means. Hopefully we'll be able to come up with a plan to deal with the financial aspects and start moving forward."
Craig Schreiner/State Journal file
A teacher works with 4-year-old kindergarten students in Lake Mills. Madison Metropolitan School District soon may be added to the nearly 75 percent of districts in the state that offer the program.
