INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Frank O'Bannon is touting the cornerstone of his education agenda before the current session of the General Assembly - full-day kindergarten.

"My visits with the school districts around the state have shown me that there is near unanimous support for the full-day kindergarten plan," he said in a teleconference with the statewide media Thursday. "Studies show that students who go to full-day kindergarten are better prepared and better able to read through the third grade.

"It is an investment in the future that 38 other states have decided they need to make," O'Bannon added. "It will reduce law enforcement and welfare costs through better educating our children."

Under the governor's proposal - HB1689 - which passed the House's Committee on Education, school districts who elect to use their portion of the $96 million the state has budgeted would have to use those funds for full-day kindergarten. The governor acknowledged some school districts have some concerns over continual funding and the costs of implementing the program, but he added the program is optional for school district and parents.

"The districts may have to fund additional class space and faculty. But that is an indication they are growing and with that growth, their tax base should be expanding along with that growth," he said. "The lack of space is a problem all growing districts have.

"The full-day kindergarten program will be optional, for both the school districts and for the parents. The state is not mandating full-day kindergarten," O'Bannon added.

Senate Republicans have expressed doubts about O'Bannon's proposal, citing studies of full-day kindergarten programs in other states. The results show only temporary improvement in the reading levels of first- through third-graders, and after fourth grade, the two groups generally read at the same level. Additionally, Senate Republicans say the plan amounts to taxpayer supported day care.

"If they really feel that way, they need to write the 38 governors and see how successful the program has been in their states," he said.

State Sen. Kent Adams said support in the Senate for the proposal isn't there yet, and O'Bannon will have a difficult time finding it.

"Full-day kindergarten is going to be a tough sell," Adams said. "We haven't seen any evidence that after the fourth grade, kids who attended full-day kindergarten do any better than kids who didn't."

Another education bill receiving the governor's support is SB 236, which would hold local school districts more accountable for their students' academic performance.

"It's a gigantic step forward in fostering a partnership between the schools and community and business leaders," he said. "It gets us away from a one-size-fits-all, top-down approach to education."

If approved by the House, the bill would require school districts to devise a three-year strategic plan to improve academic achievement in their schools. Once a plan is approved by the local school board, those bodies can request the State Board of Education waive any statute or regulation concerning curriculum or textbooks.

The assessment of a district's performance would be based primarily upon ISTEP test scores.

The Senate approved the measure on a 48-1 vote. It is currently before the House Committee on Education. [[In-content Ad]]