Black Ribbon Campaign – Is it really about children and families or the sector?

Today the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI are holding a Black Ribbon Campaign. 

The
black ribbons signify the potential loss of early childhood centres due to
significant funding cuts as a result of the transition of kindergarten
delivery. The Black Ribbon Campaign is an effort to educate the public on the
potential effects of this funding loss and to gain an immediate investment of
hope from the province of PEI as an effort to sustain quality licensed
programs.

In a letter (Download Dear_Early_Childhood_Educators_Campaign ) earlier this week to Educators, the Association stated:

• We need an immediate investment of hope as we transition our services. Specifically
  we request government’s immediate initial funding commitment to the following:

1. To maintain the 2.9
million dollars of provincial funding, previously committed to the kindergarten
program, toward the licensed early childhood system;
2. To conduct an
immediate review of the childcare subsidy system with a subsequent infusion of
dollars to support families through the expected rise in rates that this transition
will bring.

Of course; the sector should be supported in some very
specific ways as the Government transitions to a school based Kindergarten
delivery system. The PEI Government does need to address this issue; however they must do it very strategically and pay close attention to ensuring that ALL transition funding is directly connected to specific quality indicators with measurable outcomes.  That said, are the ECDA's requests really in the best interests of children and families or the sector?

Will the requested 2.9 million dollars replace the over one third of certified early childhood educators who will move to the school system with Kindergarten children?

What other options are there to support this
major transition? 

How do you think the PEI
government should be addressing this issue?

What say should Island parents have?

Should the transition decisions be based upon the needs of children and families or driven by the needs of the sector?