Unionville‑Chadds Ford School District to launch full‑day kindergarten for 2025–26

The Unionville‑Chadds Ford School District will offer full‑day kindergarten beginning in the 2025–26 school year, district leaders said during a public webinar. Officials said the change—approved earlier in the planning cycle—aims to allow more targeted early‑literacy instruction, build social and wellness skills through play, and add daily outdoor learning when feasible.

Assistant Superintendent Tim Hoffman told families the district opened kindergarten registration this week and urged early enrollment so the district can finalize staffing and classroom assignments. "We are really excited to be offering full‑day kindergarten for the upcoming 25–26 school year," Hoffman said, and noted the presentation would be recorded and posted to the district website.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mike Ard outlined three core elements of the program: stronger, deeper academic time with targeted intervention; an "active playful learning" approach that emphasizes collaboration, communication and problem solving; and a nature‑based component that incorporates outdoor learning into the school day. Ard said the district's goal is to provide about one hour of outdoor learning a day when weather and curriculum permit. "So within our program we are looking to integrate outdoor learning—the goal is to be outside one hour a day," Ard said.

On academics, Ard said full‑day kindergarten will not necessarily cover more standards than the current half‑day model but will allow more time to pursue mastery and targeted supports for students who need them, especially in early literacy. He described a multi‑staff team approach that includes kindergarten teachers, reading specialists, MTSS coordinators, paraprofessionals, school nurses and psychologists.

A typical elementary school day in the district will run from 9:10 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., with earliest drop‑off at 8:50 a.m. Ard provided an illustrative time breakdown that includes roughly 90–120 minutes of English language arts, about 60 minutes of math, one hour for active playful learning and daily specials (physical education, art, music, technology and library) on a six‑day rotation.

Officials said the district partnered with local organizations—including Longwood Gardens, Mount Cuba Center and the Stroud Water Research Center—and received a private grant through the Longwood Foundation to upgrade outdoor spaces at the elementary schools over the summer.

Hoffman and Ard addressed common family questions: before‑and‑after care is offered by the local YMCA at each elementary school for families needing supervision outside the district day; district buses will transport students and specific route times will be finalized in late summer; and children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible for kindergarten. Ard also described a "pre‑first" placement—an additional year focused on maturity and readiness rather than academics—that will be housed at Unionville Elementary School for families whose children need more time to develop before first grade.

Class‑size guidelines for kindergarten follow board‑approved staffing standards, with a target around 23 students per class ("plus or minus"); the district said an additional section would be considered if enrollment exceeds that guideline. Officials said teacher assignments will be sent in mid‑August and the first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 25, 2025.

The district encouraged families with questions to use the webinar's QR or the district's kindergarten landing page; officials will publish FAQs and the recorded presentation on the district website. "We want to be as ready as we can, so register today," Ard said.

The webinar closed with leaders thanking families for attending and reiterating that materials and the recording will be posted online and that the district will use parent questions to drive further communications and orientation events.