1. Start Time Schedules 2013-14
Vista Unified School District
Devin Vodicka, EdD
Superintendent
April 18, 2013

2. Background
• Start and End Times for schools in grades K-8
were not established for the 2012-13 year
until August 8, 2012. The first day of school
was August 20, 2012.
• The Superintendent’s commitment to the
community was to establish start/end times
no later than May 2013 for next year.

3. Process
• Superintendent’s Advisory Committee of nine members
representing Del Norte PTA, District Parent Advisory Group,
Administrators, Certificated (VTA), and Classified (CSEA)
• Meeting Dates
– Feb. 11,
– Feb. 26
– April 2
• Analyzed attendance data
• Presentations from Transportation were provided
• Reviewed 7 scenarios for start/end time
• Recommendation to Superintendent on April 2, 2013

5. Regular Daily Schedule (Simplified)
Daily Schedule 2013-14
Early Elementary Schools
Beaumont
Breeze Hill
Hannalei
Foothill Oak
Lake
Olive
Temple Heights
Grades 1-5 Kindergarten
Early Birds Later Gators
7:45-1:48 7:45-11:51 9:25-1:31
Late Elementary School
Alamosa Park
Bobier
Empresa
Grapevine
Maryland
Mission
Meadows
Monte Vista
Grades 1-5 Kindergarten
Early Birds Later Gators
8:30-2:33 8:30-12:36 10:10-2:16
Middle Schools Grades 6-8
Madison
Rancho
Minerva
Roosevelt
Washington
8:55-3:33

6. Major Changes
• Early Start Elementary Schools move from
7:35am to 7:45am
• Some Elementary schools shift from Early to
Late schedule
• Kindergarten schedules are aligned at every
site in the district using “Early Bird / Later
Gator” Model
– Incorporation of lunch into the day extends the
student experience

7. Notes from Advisory Committee
• 1 Committee member preferred current
schedule and suggested one more year before
making any changes
• Concerns exist about inequities in morning
program options between early/late start
elementary schools
• Committee did not extensively analyze
kindergarten models—research and analysis
was conducted by VUSD Administrators

8. Kindergarten Considerations
• Extended Day Kindergarten model violates Education
Code Section 46111
• Exceptions can be made if local Board Policy exists to
support “Early Primary Program” specified in Education
Code 37202 which also requires a resolution pursuant
to Education Code 8973
• “Affected bargaining units should be consulted and
agree to modifying the length of the school day for the
participating students at the participating schools”
• Source:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/extendaykinder.asp

9. Research on Extended Day
Kindergarten
• Full Day Kindergarten Effects on Later Academic Success
(Milligan, 2012):
– “There were no significant differences in students who attended
all-day kindergarten program and students who attended a
traditional kindergarten program”
• Effects of Full-Day Kindergarten on Academic Achievement
and Social Development (Cooper et al, 2010)
– “A meta-analysis found that attending a full-day … kindergarten
had a positive association with academic achievement … at the
end of the kindergarten year. But the association disappeared
by third grade.”
– “Children may not have as positive attitude an attitude toward
school in full-day versus half-day kindergarten and may
experience more behavior problems.”

10. Public Policy Institute of California
(2009)

11. Desired Focus
• http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderinfo.asp

12. Kindergarten Plans: Win/Win
• Use partnerships with ASES, AM/PM, Boys &
Girls Club, etc. to provide enrichment
opportunities for kindergarten students
before and afterschool.
• Shift attention in kindergarten to
implementation of Common Core State
Standards and the learning experiences of
students.

13. Conclusion
• Superintendent supports the Advisory
Committee recommendation to implement
“Option 7” for the 2013-14 School Year.
• Superintendent will implement aligned
kindergarten schedules for 2013-14 School
Year with encouragement to sites to expand
before/afterschool options for all students.
• Communication to families will be distributed
no later than May 2013.