Full Day Kindergarten Creates Need for Space

New Trend, Full Day Kindergarten

There is a recent trend emerging, expanding half day kindergarten programs to full day kindergarten, in schools across the United States. Schools and districts are shifting to a full-day schedule for this age group for several reasons. The expansion of kindergarten programs has many positive implications, but it also creates the need for additional education funding and more classroom space.

Why the Move to Full Days?

There are several reasons that kindergarten is shifting from a half day to a full day which are as follows:

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   1. Research shows that learning is critical for children at this age. It is a time when children are absorbing large amounts of information and their minds are at a peak in learning capabilities. This is an age where learning a second language comes easily and reading skills can be drastically improved by a few extra hours of learning each day.
   2. It is difficult for working parents to adjust to the timing. Some couples both work full-time, and there are also a large amount of single parents. By extending half days to full days, this will make the commute to and from school much easier on parents.
   3. There are many secondary benefits to extending school each day for this age group. By an increase of just 2-3 hours, this would allow for children to learn musical instruments, have longer recess, practice hands-on science, and physical education just to name a few. Children are eager to learn new things at this age, and it is important to harness that excitement and drive.

Challenges That Arise With Extended Day Kindergarten

Although longer days seem to be a win-win for both parents and their children, it also comes with some costs and challenges. By extending hours of education from a half day to a full day, more funds will be needed to compensate teachers, faculty, and cover costs of running and expanding school facilities.

A need for additional space also becomes a concern, as students would be requiring more classrooms throughout the day. This need arises primarily for specialty classrooms such as music, art, science, and other similar subjects.

In some instances, schools are not receiving additional funding to add staff and facilities. This makes it difficult for schools to adjust to the lengthier school days. According to, The Atlantic, this has become a major concern for schools in areas like Chicago, “Today, the country’s third-largest school system is still giving its 400,000 students more time to learn, but it is no longer giving more money”.

Building Space Solutions

With limited funding and the need for additional space, administrators are left with little choice for obtaining new school buildings. Conventional construction is often a lengthy process and costly. When looking to add space to existing schools, a more economical and time efficient solution could be the use of modular construction to create an ideal space solution.

Modular buildings are comprised of prefabricated building sections that are assembled off-site in a manufacturing facility. The sections (“modules”) are then transported to the school campuses where they are precisely fitted together to form complete state-of-the-art modular offices, classrooms or specialty buildings. Because of their assembly-build and fast process they are an affordable option for schools that have a limited budget expense.

Modular buildings come in distinct relocatable and permanent designs. Relocatable buildings tend to be for shorter term use and can be leased, purchased, or financed. Permanent modular construction is a similar feel to conventional construction except for the fact that the building is constructed in sections off-site while the site and foundations are being prepared. It is important to note that prefabricated buildings meet all applicable building codes, and already effectively serve a large portion of school districts across the country.

BOXX Modular 

Is full day kindergarten putting a strain on your school buildings? Don’t put up with overcrowded classrooms and other school facilities. BOXX Modular offers flexible leasing options, sensible prices, and financing choices that are making it possible for schools to afford immediate and customized facility expansion to accommodate students right now. BOXX Modular’s team is comprised of industry experts that are helping schools like yours find customized and economical modular classroom and office solutions to accommodate rapid school expansion.

Is your school expanding and looking for additional space quickly? Call us today (877)966-7839 or request a quote from your local modular building expert!

Sources Compiled From:

USA today

The Atlantic (1)

The Atlantic (2)