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WJCC presents kindergarten orientation pilot results; parents largely satisfied, staff recommend tweaks

Williamsburg-James City County School Board · January 8, 2026
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Summary

Williamsburg-James City County Schools presented early results from a kindergarten orientation pilot at three elementary schools: staff surveys (52 responses) and 1,116 parent responses found about 70% parent satisfaction and roughly 60% reported increased child preparedness. Staff recommended reducing student experience days and expanding planning with parent representation.

Williamsburg-James City County Schools presented an update on a new kindergarten orientation model piloted this school year at D.J. Montague, Laurel Lane and Norwich elementary schools. Division staff described an eight-day model organized into two phases: student experience days (core instruction, small-group observation and relationship-building) followed by two non-attendance days for staff to make informed placement and planning decisions.

Robin Ford, joined by Dr. Karen Swan, principal of Laurel Lane Elementary, said 52 staff members completed the staff survey and 1,116 parents and guardians responded to the parent survey. Ford reported that more than two-thirds of staff were satisfied with the model and that 70% of parent respondents said they were satisfied with their children’s experience. About half of parents said the non-attendance days impacted home routines, while roughly 60% agreed the model helped children feel more prepared for kindergarten.

Presenters cautioned against overinterpreting early discipline comparisons. The division’s initial comparison of first-six-week discipline data between the pilot year and the prior year showed fewer incidents in 2024 but a higher number of individual students experiencing discipline incidents that year; staff said differences in documentation practices limit the conclusions at this time and committed to examining second-quarter data across multiple years.

Board members asked about supports for students with disabilities and English learners; presenters said inclusion strategies and collaborations (including interpreters and working with existing student file processes) were integrated into planning. On possible changes, staff suggested a reduced target number of student experience days (a potential shift from six to four was mentioned) but said any change would be driven by a planning committee that will be expanded to include parent representatives.

The division said it will expand the orientation model to three or four additional schools for the 2026–27 school year, revise the model guide, communicate non-attendance dates in February, provide information at an April kindergarten event, and run staff and parent surveys again in October 2026 to evaluate refinements.

Board members expressed support for the homegrown nature of the pilot and welcomed additional data and parent input as the model scales.