Letter: Pass full-day kindergarten

Earlier this month, the Monitor published an article about the strong possibility that the Concord School Board may finally pass a budget that includes full-day kindergarten for all our 5-year-olds.

As a parent and active community member, I’m glad for the progress we’ve made on this issue in the past three years. Every candidate for school board elected this fall made a strong commitment to funding full-day kindergarten, and our whole community stands to benefit from it.

High-quality early education is proven to benefit students and the city by increasing graduation rates and reducing crime rates. It is a smart investment to give all our kids access to full-day kindergarten – not just those who can afford it.

We as a community will continue to bring attention and focus to this issue and to the school board until Concord offers full-day kindergarten.

I urge the Concord School Board to follow through on its promise to pass a budget that includes full-day kindergarten in 2018.

KRISTYN VAN OSTERN

Concord