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12/14/2009

Update from ODE on All-Day Kindergarten Waivers

 

All-day, every-day kindergarten becomes a requirement for all school districts beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, unless the district obtains a waiver from the state. With the passage of amended House Bill 318 "a school district may seek a delay, until fiscal year 2012, of the requirement to implement all-day kindergarten for all students in that district." HB 1 permits the superintendent of public instruction to grant a waiver to a school district from the requirement of providing all-day, every-day kindergarten if the district can demonstrate that a hardship exists which prevents it from offering all-day, every-day kindergarten in the 2010-2011 school year.

The waiver application is available by clicking here or by visiting education.ohio.gov and searching for keywords kindergarten waiver. Districts must submit the waiver application in hard copy form to ODE along with two attachments: 1) a copy of the local school board resolution that contains a request for delay of all-day, every-day kindergarten and justification for seeking a waiver; and 2) a copy of the local school district plan for providing all-day, every-day kindergarten in school year 2011-2012. The waiver and the two attachments should be submitted to ODE in hard copy form by U. S. mail to:

Office of Early Learning & School Readiness, Mail Stop #305

Ohio Department of Education

25 S. Front Street

Columbus, OH 43215

Attn: Michelle K. Smith

 

We have prepared waiver guidelines and a list of frequently asked questions, which may be accessed by clicking here or by visiting education.ohio.gov and searching for keywords kindergarten waiver.

Only traditional public school districts seeking a waiver from providing all-day, every-day kindergarten need to complete the waiver application. Districts planning on offering all-day, every-day kindergarten in 2010-2011 do not need to complete a waiver application or notify ODE.

Waiver applications will be reviewed as they are received, and ODE will notify superintendents of the approval or denial of their waiver application via email.

Should you have any questions regarding the waiver application, please contact ELSR@ode.state.oh.us or 614-995-9974.

 

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