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It's not play based, but in my town the free kindergarten is only a half day in the morning. So most of the typical instruction is done during the morning session. The afternoons have other activities.

Here's the schedule of activities from the school's website:

Morning Segment:
Morning Meeting
Snack & Morning Recess
EnVisions Math
ELA Block: Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop / Literacy Centers
Science & Social Studies
Fundations Phonics Program
Handwriting

Afternoon:
25 minute Lunch
25 minute Recess
Academic Extension Activities -center time/choice time/class read aloud
50 Minute Special Subject Block (1 per day):
-Tech Time (Coding!, iPads/Laptop use, Safe ways to use the internet (Games and Educational Programs)
-Little T’s Stripes Club (Social Emotional Development/Gross Motor Activities)
-Music, Movement and More! (Singing, movement games, and Art)

It's a little top heavy with academic instruction all packed into a couple hours. But the entire morning session only goes from 8:50-12:15, so it's definitely not 6 hours of instruction at desks. I'm always curious when people talk about how academic and difficult K is, if they have half day programs of whole day.

It is not play based but I dont think they spend all day sitting at their desk doing desk work. They still do a lot of "carpet time" where they do group lessons. Plus the other special areas (art class, PE, music etc). Plus they do have time for centers for about 20-30 minutes a day.

Not play based.
Typical schedule:

755-1030 Reader's Workshop (small group reading with teacher, and rotations (usually iPads, library center, read to self, writing center, word work) and whole group lessons, consisting on phonics, shared reading, interactive writing, etc.
1030-1110: Lunch
1110-1130-Recess
1130-1245: Whole group math and math tubs
1245-115: Science/Social Studies
115-155: Music
155-205: Pack up/dismiss

Unfortunately when you look at many state standards for public schools, they don't leave much room for play-based kinder when teachers have so many standards to teach.

I hope so! Not gonna have my kid at a desk.

Academic but they are not at the table all day like others mentioned. We still have about 8 weeks left but she is writing a sentence daily in her notebook now. She will write several sentences when she plays and wants to write. It's crazy to see the leap of development in Kinder.

@MamaG: Wait until next year!
1st grade is like the light bulb year! They truly go off!!!!
Why I love it!

Very academic. But they get almost 1.5 hours of recess every day and frequent special activities. I've been extremely happy with the school, the teacher and my son's progress.

@MamaG: I agree...my son does a morning reflection journal and the other day they sent home some pages...I wish they would have kept it together, but whatever. To see what he wrote on day 18 versus day 65 is amazing.

My son can read 3 sentence paragraphs, no problem. As for writing them, he can write 3 sentences that are related to each other, but I am not sure I'd call it a paragraph. When he went to K, he could form letters and couldn't read, so, it's truly amazing what they are capable of.

Now, do I wish there was more play, absolutely! It's so important for their overall development to have time to be children. It's just that at a certain point, I have to accept that this is what full day K in my state is and either go that route or find alternatives. My main concern isn't the academics, it is more the length of the day. The program is full day, from 9 to 3.

@T.H.O.U.: that's how ours is too! I think its a nice balance!

Students have little free time at school unless you count PE and art. Those are pretty much standards based as well. However, your kids have weekends, long breaks, afterschool that are 'free' so it is really up to parents to step up provide the balance, playtime, playdates etc to enrich their lives outside of 'desk' work. By the time they get to middle school--even upper grade elementary - there are a lot of projects and teamwork so that's a nice balance. They have to learn how to write (and are able) so why not start them when they are drenched in reading literacy from before starting kindergarten. Desk work is no fun for grown ups but kids seem to manage it a bit better. Most of the lower grades have whole group floor time too. Sounds dreadful as adults, doesn't it? Kids love it. Just read T.H.O.U.'s similar response, yes--centers is always a favorite activity to breakup the desk work too! Teachers have the developmental stuff down.