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In an effort to better serve the parents and students of Chisago Lakes, the district is planning to offer a limited pilot of all-day everyday kindergarten for the 2008-2009 school year. This program will be in addition to the other great options we have always offered.

Currently, Minnesota only provides funding for the half-day program. Last year, funding for all-day everyday kindergarten was proposed at the state level, but it failed to pass.

Forest Lake has been offering all-day everyday kindergarten for a few years and North Branch plans to offer limited sections next year. Our district does not have space to offer this option to all students at the present time, but we do want to offer it as an option for those parents who are interested.

Three options are currently being considered in order to best fit the needs of our students. Each will follow the same Kindergarten curriculum and prepare them for success in 1st grade.

Program Options under consideration are:

1) Half-Day Kindergarten (no cost)

2) Half-Day Kindergarten with Half-Day Kids Club $9.00 per day

3) Full-Day Kindergarten Plus $2700.00 per year / $15.60 per day.

Informational meetings on these kindergarten options were held in Taylors Falls and Chisago Lakes Primary on Jan. 22 and 24. Parents interested in the new program will need to fill out a registration form by March 6.

If there is enough interest, one section will be offered in Taylors Falls and two sections at Primary. In order for the sections to be offered and self-supported, we need to have at least 20 students in each. If there are more families interested in the all-day kindergarten option, a lottery will be held on March 31.

For more information on Kindergarten Options, please contact Brenda Schell, Director of Curriculum & Communications, at 651-213-2005.

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