Parents call for change in LI district without full-day kindergarten

Parents in the only school district on Long Island without full-day kindergarten are calling for change. The Harborfields School District doesn't offer a full day of classes for kindergarteners. Several

News 12 Staff

Feb 29, 2016, 3:15 AM

Updated 3,126 days ago

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Parents in the only school district on Long Island without full-day kindergarten are calling for change.
The Harborfields School District doesn't offer a full day of classes for kindergarteners. Several parents are planning to drive up to Albany to ask lawmakers to mandate full-day courses throughout the state, or provide additional funding for the program.
But one state lawmaker tells News 12 it's unlikely the Legislature would ever force a district to implement full-day kindergarten. State Sen. Carl Marcellino, of Oyster Bay, says the Senate majority will be working to ensure that Long Island's school districts will receive their fair share during the budget process.
In a statement, the Harborfields superintendent said, "The district recognizes the benefits of a full-day kindergarten program and is currently and actively reviewing and assessing the need to implement such a program."
Earlier this month, the district rolled out a budget scenario that does include full-day kindergarten for the 2016-17 school year. The next budget presentation will take place next Saturday.