State schools Superintendent Deborah Delisle said all Ohio school districts are required to offer all-day kindergarten beginning in the 2010-2011 school year.

While high-performing school districts will be exempt from other requirements included in Gov. Ted Strickland's education overhaul, all-day kindergarten is non-negotiable, Delisle said.

The superintendent's remarks came in response to suggestions from some Columbus-area school officials and parents who said that because their district was high performing, it would be exempt from the requirement.

"The bill is very clear," Delisle said. "All districts must offer all-day kindergarten."

That said, the superintendent noted that parents will have the option of placing their child in a half-day program and districts will have to accommodate such requests.

Delisle said she also will be granting one-year waivers to districts that can show they have tried unsuccessfully to initiate all-day kindergarten but need more time because of problems such as insufficient classroom space.

-- Catherine Candisky ccandisky@dispatch.com

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