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Early Childhood Learning Agency – A Bit More Information

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Shortly after the Throne Speech in BC I emailed several people in the BC Government, including the Honourable Minister Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care regarding the announcement about the Province studying the feasibility of offering full day kindergarten for three, four and five year old children. I was seeking information about the plans for this research and also information on how this may impact current child care providers in the Province. Here is a reply that I got back via email earlier this week.

Thank you for your email addressed to the Honourable Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care, regarding the recent Throne Speech and the Ministry of Education’s feasibility study on offering full day kindergarten for three, four and five year old children.  Since the Ministry of Education is taking the lead for the new Early Childhood Learning Agency, your email has been forwarded to me for response.

As you are aware, the Throne Speech stated, “A new Early Childhood Learning Agency will assess the feasibility and costs of full-day kindergarten for five-year old children.  It will also undertake a feasibility study of providing parents with the choice of day-long kindergarten for four year-old children by 2010, and for three year old children by 2012.”  The feasibility study will explore multiple options and create opportunities for consultation.  A decision on whether or not to implement full-day kindergarten as an option for three, four and five year old children will be determined when the report is completed.

You raise a number of questions that will be addressed over the coming months. At this point in time, I can advise that cross-ministry discussions are underway to determine the form and role the Agency will take.

In order to guide early learning programs in British Columbia the Ministry of Education recently led the development of an Early Learning Framework for children from birth to five years old children.  The primary purpose of the Early Learning Framework is to support adults to create rich early learning experiences and environments that reflect the latest knowledge on how best to support young children’s early learning and development.  All early learning programs that are offered by the Ministry of Education, including StrongStart BC Early Learning Programs, are encouraged to use this Framework as a guide to providing quality early learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate with a holistic approach to learning.  Any future programs, including those recommended for implementation by the Agency for young children would likely also be based on this pedagogy.

Thank you for sharing your comments with the Ministry of Education.

Sincerely,

Susan Kennedy
Executive Director
Diversity, Equity and Early Learning
Partnerships and Planning Division
pc:  Honourable Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care

Turning Schools into Neighbourhood Hubs

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Thinking about Neighbourhood Hubs

As demographics shift it is becoming clear that school buildings can have uses that extend beyond the typical public school program.  Neighbourhoods have many needs and school buildings can be a wonderful place to create community based hubs that offer a wide range of services to the general public.  Finding renewed and expanded life for schools is one way to ensure the legacy of public buildings.

The City of Vancouver will be hosting a conference on this very topic on April 6, 2008.  This is a great opportunity to join in the dialogue about how we can make public schools even better.

Think Schools is a one-day conference on how citizens across the city can develop a vision for renewing schools, so as to leave our children and our neighbourhoods with a legacy of iconic public buildings that serve as community hubs for Vancouver.

Think Schools will feature a keynote address from Seattle School Board Building Excellence Program Manager Don Gilmore who will share solutions that helped preserve and renew his city’s public school buildings. Mr. Gillmore has 30 years experience in facilities planning, design, and budgeting and construction management.