All-Day Kindergarten

July 31, 2019
by Valerie Hsu

Only 8 elementary schools of the 126 in Montgomery County had all day kindergarten. These few schools were among the most affluent in the county and had more resources available to them than the large majority of others. As early childhood education has shown to have the biggest return of any kind of education for children because it is crucial to learning, socializing and a rounded education, AIM members thought it necessary that all children in Montgomery County be afforded access to all day programs.

At around the same time AIM members began pushing for all day kindergarten, Mayor Dr. Reece also saw its importance and proposed a five year plan to implement it. Though, AIM leaders, clergy and congregations saw the immediate need of this program and successfully organized to expedite Reece’s five year plan by two years. AIM members also ensured that all day kindergarten be afforded to all elementary schools throughout the county, regardless of privilege.