Thirteen elementary schools in Chilliwack could be getting full-day kindergarten as early as September 2010 if the school district gets its wish.

The district is submitting a request today [Friday] for 13 of its 20 elementary schools to be included in the first phase of the B.C. government's full-day kindergarten rollout starting in September 2010.

The district is indicating high vulnerability and available space as reasons for being selected first.

On average, 30.8 per cent of Chilliwack children entering kindergarten are significantly at-risk for school success. However, in some neighbourhoods, like the downtown core, that number is as high as 75 per cent, said Mary-Anne Smirle, district director of instruction.

All of Chilliwack's elementary schools, except for Promontory Heights elementary, indicated an interest in getting full-day kindergarten in 2010.

Smirle said that eight of the schools met all of the ministry's requirements, some of which included having available space, a high student vulnerability rate, and being able to offer on-site childcare before and after full-day kindergarten.

Five of the schools are lacking on-site childcare.

"We are not sure if all, some, or any of these schools will be selected," said Smirle. "But the history of Chilliwack's [Early Development Instrument] trend works in our favour."

If all of the 13 schools are selected, nine additional kindergarten teachers will need to be hired.

The government is not providing any additional funding in the first year of the implementation. Per student pupil funding, however, is expected to offset the costs of the additional teachers.

Still, Chilliwack Teachers' Association president Katherin Midzain would prefer the district hold off on implementing full-day kindergarten for a year to see how the government supports other districts that do take it on.

"It's going to be expensive, and we don't know what we're getting into," she said. "We have a short timeframe to make this major decision and change in our practices, but no clear promise as to where the money will come from."

Approximately half of kindergarten-age children in the province will have access to full-day programming in September 2010. All kindergarten students, across the province, will be offered full-day kindergarten in September 2011.

Schools selected for 2010 will be announced within the next two months.

kbartel@theprogress.com