The results from the Hanover School Divison's Kindergarten survey are in.

A survey was presented in early February to parents of current Kindergarten students and to parents who pre-registered their children to start in the fall. The survey asked parents if they would prefer classes continue to run half-day, every day or if they would like to see a change to full-day, alternate day.

Superintendent Randy Dueck Steinbach had a majority response confirming parents would like to see a switch to full-day, alternate day Kindergarten. Niverville Elementary School and South Oaks School in Grunthal have been piloting full-day, alternate day Kindergarten for a few years and it has been going well. The remaining rural schools were not as receptive to the idea of change and, therefore, will continue to have half-day, every day Kindergarten.

"We feel educationally, for the most part, it's a draw," notes Dueck. "There's some research that suggests it's better to go all-day, every other day; there's research that suggests it's better to go every day, but only half-a-day. It's a bit of a mixed bag in terms of research."

Dueck notes the division will see a cost saving because the buses will not have to run at noon in Steinbach, however, there will be an extra cost for those teachers to have prep time during the day. He says, in the end, these two cost differences will likely cancel each other out.

He adds in about three years they may revisit the subject with the remaining rural schools and see whether or not there has been a change of mind. 

Read More:
Hanover Thinking About Changing Steinbach Kindergarten

Hanover Reviews Kindergarten
Hanover To Try Full Day Kindergarten
Niverville Testing Full Day Kindergarten
All Day Kindergarten In Steinbach?
Steinbach Kindergarten To Stay As Is