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Promoting Health Equity, Education Programs and Policies: Full-Day Kindergarten

Full-day kindergarten is a formal program offered for children aged 4 to 6 years in a school or school-like setting during the school year prior to entering first grade. Activities are organized, developed, and supervised by at least one adult. Full-day kindergarten programs run 5 days a week and last 5 to 6 hours per day.

Summary of Task Force Findings & Recommendations

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends full-day kindergarten programs to improve the health prospects of low-income and minority children, based on strong evidence that full-day programs substantially improve reading and mathematics achievement—determinants of long-term academic and health-related outcomes (e.g., reduced teen pregnancy and risk behaviors)—when compared with half-day kindergarten or full-day kindergarten on alternating days.

The achievement gains apparent at the beginning of first grade do not, themselves, guarantee academic achievement in later years. Ongoing school environments that support learning and development are essential.

Task Force Finding & Rationale Statement

The Task Force finding presented on this page was made in December 2011. It was based on a systematic review of all available studies (Cooper et al. 2010), conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to health equity and education policy.

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References

Cooper H, Batts Allen A, Patall EA, Dent AL. Effects of full-day kindergarten on academic achievement and social development. Review of Educational Research 2010;80:34.



Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.

Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services Task Force is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Promoting health equity, education programs and policies: full-day kindergarten. www.thecommunityguide.org/healthequity/fulldaykindergarten.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: December 2011