BENEFITS OF A K-8 EDUCATION

There is a nationwide movement to reinstate the K-8 school model. The impetus for this movement is the increasing amount of research that shows K-8 schools are effective in improving student’s achievement in the middle grades. William Moloney former Commissioner of Education for Colorado states, "Historically [the K through 8 school] is what America was. It really comes down to the things that parents value most -- intimacy, the basics, control.


"If your child is known by every single teacher in the building, if you have a relationship of nine years' duration, if you have that kind of focus and intensity," Moloney asked, "is that not better than when your children are sent to a more distant school with larger numbers?"


K-8 schools enhance social capital creating greater opportunities at success by building relationships with staff and peers over a course of nine years.


Parent involvement improves because parents are more likely to stay involved in the children’s school longer. They are also more likely to have more than one student enrolled in the same school.


The early-grade teachers can speak with middle-grade teachers regarding a student’s history, learning style, and family dynamic. These connections mean that each September teachers and their families do not start from square one!


Middle-grade students in a K-8 school behave differently than in a middle school. They take on the role of protector and role model as opposed to having to establish new reputations upon entering middle school.


School staff members feel more connected to the community. They are able to see their influence as the students grow from small children into young adults.


Teacher collaboration and articulation within and across grades increases.


Positive results were noted in a study done by Dr. Robert Offenberg, of Philadelphia, when comparing the outcomes of students who attended K-8 schools versus the traditional 6-8 environment. Scores in reading, math, and science are significantly stronger in K-8 schools. Students from K-8 schools were 11% more likely to be enrolled in selective high school programs. Students from K-8 schools also demonstrated a higher GPA in 9th grade. Some of these results are also attributed to the fact that many K-8 schools also have smaller class sizes.


This information was taken from dissertation research regarding K-8 education by Keith Look, a researcher for the Philadelphia Education Fund, www.thevilla.org/visitors/documents/VILLA-K-8Benefits.pdf


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