• 91Ö±²¥ FDK LogoA new Full-Day Kindergarten program is taking flight in 91Ö±²¥ beginning the 2026-27 school year. 

    Central Bucks School District is excited to welcome all eligible district children to an enhanced kindergarten experience in every one of 91Ö±²¥'s 15 elementary schools starting in the 2026-27 school year. A pioneer FDK program will be offered in six schools in 2025-26.

     

Program Highlights

  • 91Ö±²¥'s new full-day kindergarten program will enhance academic excellence by promoting reading by grade 3 and mastering math facts by grade 4. A more comprehensive curriculum will include extended instructional time for reading, writing, literacy, math, and other key subjects, as well as access to all Specials (Art, Health & Physical Education, Library, Music, and Question and Understanding through Engineering, Science and Technology [QUEST]). More time for individualized instruction will increase opportunities for independent learning, classroom involvement, and productivity in work with peers. Additional time will be available for self-initiated and small group activities, teacher-directed individual work, direct instruction in social skills, and reinforcement of behavioral expectations. The district's first-grade academic delivery model will also be strengthened.

  • A teacher leads a kindergarten class out of the classroom

Pioneering FDK in 25-26

  • Cold Spring, Doyle, Groveland, Jamison, Kutz and Mill Creek Elementary schools have been selected to pioneer the full-day kindergarten program in the 2025-26 school year before full implementation in 2026-27. Half-day programs will not be available at these schools, which were carefully selected according to three main criteria: each school has adequate space to accommodate full-day kindergarten classrooms; each school’s student population, environment, size, and demographics represent a diverse cross-section of our district; and the selected schools represent all three attendance areas for our middle schools and high schools. Families residing in pioneer school attendance areas are unable to request enrollment in half-day programs at other schools, nor can families in half-day program areas request enrollment in full-day programs at pioneer schools. Read the Nov. 6, 2024 announcement about the selection of the pioneer schools.

  • A kindergarten teacher instructs a group of students

Half-Day vs. Full-Day Schedule

    • Each kindergarten day starts with a "Morning Meeting" to acclimate our youngest students to the school day. In the current half-day program, this meeting lasts 15 minutes. The proposed (slide 6) would increase this meeting time to 20 minutes.
    • Following the Morning Meeting, the Reading and Writing instructional period would increase from 86 to 130 minutes, allowing for Reading Horizons (phonics instruction), My View (comprehension instruction), small group instruction, and writing instruction.
    • Math would increase from 28 to 60 minutes, allowing for calendar math, Math in Focus, and small group instruction.
    • A "What I Need (WIN)" period would be added to provide individualized support to students.
    • Following WIN, all five Specials would be offered on a rotational basis for 40 minutes versus the current 20 to 30 minutes for two Specials.
    • Purposeful Play would be added for 30 minutes followed by 60 minutes for lunch and recess.
    • The day would end with a new "Quiet Time" period (15 minutes) before an extended "Closing Circle" and pack-up period.   
    • Additionally, Science and Social Studies content would be embedded into Purposeful Play, Morning Meeting, Reading, Writing, Math, and Specials.

  • K students read together in a library