In January 2010, the provincial government announced that early learning will begin in Ontario for select schools across the province. September 2010 will mark the start of a five-year phased in implementation plan that will provide a full day of learning to four- and five-year-olds.  This first year will affect 35 000 students in almost 600 schools in Ontario.  The province's rationale for early learning, also referred to as all-day kindergarten or continuous learning, is to build a stronger school system and a well-educated workforce that provides "wrap-around" services to parents. It is based on recommendations by Early Learning Advisor Dr. Charles Pascal's 2009 report "With Our Best Future in Mind: Implementing Early Learning in Ontario”"

 

The Ministry  of Education has committed to see the Early Learning Program in all schools by 2015-2016 and by then it will be estimated to cost almost $1 billion dollars.  As this project is being phased in, it remains unclear what actual costs will be to school boards and taxpayers given the need to pay for the service, staffing and necessary renovations in some schools.  It is anticipated that teachers and early childhood educators will work together to plan integrated activities and lessons for children before and after formal school hours.

 

Early Learning will not be mandatory for TDSB students and will be based on a fee-for-service model which includes  reasonable fees and subsidies for families in need.  If there is enough demand from parents, TDSB will look into extending programs to different times during the year, including March Break and summer as well as offering the program to six-to-twelve year olds.  It is however, going to be a challenging task to integrate and administer early learning in a school system as large as ours and expansion will take some time.

 

Ward 22 Schools that have been chosen for Early Learning for September 2010:

 

Heather Heights Jr PS

Highland Creek PS

William G Davis Jr PS

 West Rouge Jr PS 

George B Little PS

Military Trail PS

 

TDSB schools were chosen on the basis of space,  demand, enrolment considerations, among other factors.

Positives about early learning include options for parents who have to juggle work and family demands, a longer continuous learning day for students that will get them ready for full day school,  and solid scholarship and data based on how children learn.  Some downsides about this plan include the huge price tag, the need for more guidance from the province and making sure school boards have the tools they need to implement such a wide-ranging program. In addition, boundaries will not be changed to accommodate out of area students who wish to take advantage of the first year of Early Learning.

 

If you have further questions about Early Learning, the Ministry of Education offers broad information at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/earlylearning/.  If you have questions about how a specific school on the list will implement Early Learning, please directly contact one of the schools offering the program