DUBLIN, Ohio — Like Columbus’ other suburbs, Dublin has seen explosive growth in recent years and it has called for changes to the city’s school district.
Along with opening a new elementary school in the fall, the district is preparing to transition to full-day kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.
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When Dublin City Schools voters passed a levy for the new Bishop Elementary School in 2023, it also included a promise to add full-day kindergarten to the district.
“We’re one of the last districts in central Ohio to make the transition to all-day kindergarten,” said John Marshhausen, Dublin City Schools Superintendent. “We’re growing about 375 students per year. This won’t be our last new building. We’re putting an addition on to one of our high schools.”
Districts in central Ohio have been making the transition in recent years from a half-day kindergarten program to a full-day program.
Upper Arlington Schools made the transition in 2021. Hilliard City Schools started the transition before that when Marschhausen led that district.
A 2008 study from the University of Pittsburgh found that there are short-term benefits to full-day kindergarten programs. Students in full-day programs performed better in first and second grade than their half-day counterparts. However, that advantage faded by the third grade.
“When we're full day, we're able to provide art and music, and PE and library time. We're able to provide that science of reading foundation that allows us to get students into those critical skills at an earlier age,” said Marschhausen.
Dublin City Schools is currently going through a redistricting process for its elementary and middle schools to better allocate resources in the growing district. Marschhausen said the full-day plan will involve moving some teachers and staff to different buildings. This process will also make sure that there is enough staff at the elementary and middle schools to absorb the projected growth of the district.