AUBURN – A study has concluded that Auburn’s fledgling all-day kindergarten program is working and should continue.

The study was completed by Auburn’s all-day kindergarten coordinator, an assistant professor of social and behavioral sciences at Lewiston-Auburn College and a student at Lewiston Auburn College. It was presented to the Auburn School Committee Wednesday night.

The study found that recent all-day kindergarten students showed greater improvement in reading and pre-reading skills, such as telling a story in sequence, than did past half-day students. Through a survey of parents and teachers, parents said they were largely satisfied with the all-day program, which gave their children more time with their teacher and greater access to services. Teachers said they could get to know their students better, allow additional time for play and create a more relaxed classroom.

“This works. This helps more kids achieve greater than they would have,” said Kyle Rhoads, Auburn’s all-day kindergarten coordinator.

But not all news was good.

Research found that all-day kindergartners did not follow directions as well as their half-day counterparts.

“There’s a lot more time to be tired or for misbehavior,” said Katie Bryant, the Lewiston-Auburn College student who worked on the study.

It also found that all-day students could not recognize the alphabet as well as half-day kids.

Researchers said Wednesday that the difference was not statistically significant. They could not draw any firm conclusions from it.

In all, Bryant said, “It was quite evident that all-day kindergarten was worth continuing.”

In her report to the School Committee, Bryant suggested that the school system continue the program but improve record keeping and student tracking so future studies could be done.

Auburn first started offering a pilot all-day kindergarten program three years ago, allowing some young students to go to school for six hours rather than the traditional three hours. The School Committee made all-day kindergarten systemwide two years ago.

Parents have the choice to send their children all day or part of the day. According to Superintendent Barbara Eretzian, only a small number send their kids for half a day.

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