PONTIAC - About half of the kindergarten students at public schools in Pontiac are not prepared to move onto first grade and school officials think that was caused - and can be helped - by a change in class sizes.

District 429 Superintendent Steve Graham said school officials knew the class was low functioning at the start of the year and prepared by adding two classes. But several children registered late and that affected the small class sizes the district had hoped would aid 162 kindergartners, who are divided into eight classes.

"The additional children meant we didn't have the small class sizes that we wanted," Graham said. "We don't want to retain the students because we don't know what the incoming class will be like."

Holding the children back is not an option because of the number of failing students. Some of the students are already experiencing kindergarten for the second time.

Members of the school board's curriculum committee discussed the situation Monday. Graham expects a plan to be prepared for the entire board to review by the end of the school year.

Special needs coordinator Barb House said more than 40 of the children are receiving educational intervention. Special education classes are started in the higher grade levels.

House said the staff and teachers have tried different ways to educate the children and believe more reading may help.

"With double the amount of reading, there is a better chance of reading," House said. "The staff has voiced their concerns. We are very open to trying new strategies."

The current kindergarten class is among one of the largest classes in the district. School officials just started working on pre-screening and enrollment for the incoming class, which they also believe will be larger.

School administrators are looking into several options. Fewer than 10 of the children will be held back; the rest will advance to first grade.

One option includes special sections of first grade, which would have small classes and two teachers. Graham said the additional educator will help children in small reading groups.

Another plan is to have an intense focus on reading and math, skills educators believe are essential to succeeding in school.

Other subjects, such as science and social studies, would not have the same emphasis.