Unionville‑Chadds Ford outlines full‑day kindergarten plan emphasizing outdoor, play‑based learning for 2025–26

Mr. Hoffman updated the committee on planning for full‑day kindergarten, describing it as an opportunity to design an engaging, play‑based and nature‑based program to open in 2025–26.

Hoffman said the district is using backwards design to tie standards to assessment and then build lessons, allowing outdoor and play‑based extensions rather than rigid scheduling blocks. Key scheduling parameters include a 390‑minute elementary instructional day, inclusion of lunch and recess (new for kindergarten under the plan), and daily specials. He noted that outdoor and play‑based extensions will be written into curriculum documents so the program is sustainable beyond the initial creators.

Work under way includes curriculum writing, screening‑tool selection to measure kindergarten readiness and exit benchmarks, ordering classroom and playground materials, planning facilities upgrades, finalizing staffing and school schedules, developing a communications plan for families, and hosting parent registration events. Hoffman said some professional development and curriculum writing will begin immediately and continue over the summer.

Board members praised the approach and urged the team to "dive fully into this," while also urging thorough planning to ensure consistency across buildings. The presentation concluded with committee support for continued work ahead of the 25‑26 rollout.