I never really connected all day kingergarten to any head start program. I was always under the assumption that headstart programs were meant to prepare at risk children for their future school years by exposing the children to educational resources (books, songs, games and interaction) that they may not be receiving at home and parental support. I suppose that a full day program could give at risk children more opportunities to be exposed to language and language development tools but I can't help but feel its a situation of too little too late. Ideally, we want children to have plenty of exposure to books and parental interaction long before kindergarten. I believe true headstart programs have enormous benefits to at risk children and families regardless of skewed studies and politicians with different agendas.

Unfortunately, I'm not convinced that all day kindergarten will have the same benefits and don't think they should really be compared to each other. Personally I'm glad my children were not in all day kindergarten, because the half day system allowed me to spend time with my kids. I do believe that they benefited from the experience. But, I was lucky, not many parents have that same luxury and desperately need daycare for their children. Full time kindergarten eases the financial load a great deal and provides a structured environment that benefits some children. I hope that all day kindergarten will be beneficial to the children enrolled in it and it may even raise EQAO scores down the road.