State Clears Cda Schools Kindergartners Are Taught Enough, Top Official Rules

The Coeur d’Alene School District provides enough instructional time to its kindergartners, the state superintendent of public instruction has decided.

In a letter to the district, Marilyn Howard informed the district that it complies with all time requirements, despite the objections of a Hayden parent.

“We have examined every document we could find, have held staffings to review the materials, have consulted with attorneys and have examined our own guidelines,” Howard wrote. “We now consider this matter concluded.”

Brad St. John, the parent whose inquiries kicked off an investigation, is furious with Howard’s response.

“It’s just deplorable that they could come in this direction,” St. John said. By siding with the Coeur d’Alene School District, he said, Howard is not enforcing the state educational rules.

“We’re not done with this. That’s the bottom line.”

St. John began his crusade in September to prove that the district was shortchanging students by counting recess and the time when kindergartners line up for school as instructional time. State law requires districts to provide kindergartners with 450 hours of instructional time a year. St. John said the district was short by more than 40 hours.

St. John took his concerns to the district, state legislators and finally the state Department of Education. Due in part to his efforts, legislation was passed this year prohibiting districts from counting any type of recess as instructional time.

St. John said he plans to pursue additional investigations of the district through legislators and the state Board of Education.

David Rawls, superintendent in Coeur d’Alene, said he is pleased Howard found no problems with his district.

“I was glad to get a letter from the state department basically supporting the district as having appropriately designed the schedules and calendars,” Rawls said.

Despite the outcome, the district has made some changes, Rawls said. A warning bell will now be rung at all schools prior to the bell signaling the start of classes. And, in compliance with the new state law, Rawls said, the district will have to add time to the day for kindergarten recess.

St. John’s primary objections were that the district counted recess and the time when students are lining up for class as instructional time.

The state said the Coeur d’Alene district verified, through its principals, that the 15-minute kindergarten recess period was instructional, as students learn such skills as sharing, conflict resolution and organized games. As for the five minutes at the beginning of the day when students are lining up, the state also found that to be instructional for kindergartners.

“Because kindergarten is, for most students, the first exposure to school, and because the students are so young, they require adult supervision, direction and instruction in these activities that older students do not,” the state Department of Education wrote in its memo analyzing the issue.

“During these transition periods … students are taught how to line up, follow directions, follow routines and safety rules, … and other lessons which necessarily must be reinforced daily because of the students’ young age.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: HISTORY

Parent Brad St. John complained in September that the district was shortchanging students by counting recess and time spent lining up as instructional time.