Is Kindergarten the New First Grade? Researchers Say Yes

There is no doubt that the Common Core State Standards are changing the educational landscape. This article featured in Education Week argues that the days of coloring and painting in Kindergarten are few and far between. According to a new study from the University of Virginia, more and more early-learning classrooms are focusing on foundational skills such as reading. The article sites that “from 1998 to 2006, kindergarten teachers reported devoting 25 percent more time to teaching early literacy, from 5.5 hours to seven hours per week, ” and 75 percent of kindergarteners are now enrolled in full-day schooling.