PROVIDENCE – After the House of Representatives approved a resolution last year throwing support behind full-day kindergarten programs statewide, Rep. Roberto DaSilva, a Democrat servicing District 63 in East Providence and Pawtucket, and Joy Hearn a Democrat in District 66 in Barrington and East Providence, are now looking to make full-day programs a matter of state law.

“The House debated this issue and endorsed a resolution last year supporting the concept of all-day kindergarten,” said DaSilva in a statement. “But that’s not enough. We need to follow up our strong vote of support with legislation that makes full-day kindergarten a reality for all of our children.”

If enacted, the bill would make full-day kindergarten mandatory, with a school day consisting of at least five-and-one-half hours of actual work.

“As a parent whose children have greatly benefited from both preschool and full-day kindergarten, I see the value in a solid early education and hope that someday, all Rhode Island children will have access to the same programs,” said DaSilva.

DaSilva's bill has received criticism this week, with some state and municipal leaders calling it yet another unfunded mandate from the state.

Hearn, who has long been a supporter of public education in Rhode Island, believes the bill is the first step of strengthening and equalizing public education in Rhode Island.

“With the Rhode Island Department of Education’s significant $50 million grant for preschool education, we have to make sure that our investment is followed by a strong all-day kindergarten program for our students,” she said. “Research has shown that an investment in early education provides a firm base for children to learn. I’m honored to be sponsoring such an exciting piece of legislation on behalf of all Rhode Island students.”

Students moving from a half-day to a full-day kindergarten format allows for a longer, continuous learning path for students to master important foundational learning skills, according to DaSilva.

“Once students become familiar with the pace and routine of a traditional school day, it’s easier to jump into that next level,” he said.

According to Kids Count Rhode Island, a children’s policy and advocacy organization, students enrolled in full-day kindergarten are more likely to be ready for the first grade than children in half-day kindergarten programs, “regardless of family income, parental education and school characteristics.” The latest Kids Count report states that “full-day kindergarten programs can be especially beneficial to poor and minority children and can contribute significantly to closing academic achievement gaps.”

During the 2010-2011 school year, 17 school districts in Rhode Island offered universal access to full-day kindergarten programs and another six operated at least one full-day kindergarten classroom. The Lincoln school district began offering full-day kindergarten during the last school year. The Kids Count report also notes all independent charter schools in the state offering kindergarten run full-day programs.

The Woonsocket Education Department was the only “core city” to eliminate its full-day kindergarten program last year because of budgetary issues. Kids Count defines “core city” as a community in which 15 percent or more of the children live in families with income below the federal poverty level.

Co-sponsors of the all-day kindergarten bill include Representatives John Edwards, District 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Raymond Johnston Jr., District 61, Pawtucket, and Teresa Tanzi, District 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown. The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.