From PEI Government Press Release this morning:
Government Commits to Full-Day School-Based Kindergarten in 2010
Premier's Office
Prince Edward Island will offer a full-day public kindergarten program in Island schools in September 2010.
Following the release of the Public Kindergarten Commissioner’s report
in Summerside today, Premier Robert Ghiz advised that Government has
endorsed the direction of the report. Recommendations that require
further analysis or consultation will be considered by groups of
educator, parent and partner representatives.
Premier Ghiz
commended Commissioner Pat Mella on an excellent report. “When we asked
Ms. Mella to do this work, we had high expectations for the product she
would deliver. As expected, she has produced a thoughtful and
comprehensive report that addresses all the issues and is based on the
most current research and extensive consultation,” said the Premier.
“The Commissioner’s recommendations and research will be of tremendous
assistance as we begin a new era of early learning that offers more
opportunities for Island children to flourish and thrive.”
Government has approved the recommendation that kindergarten will be a full-day, mandatory program for the full school year.
Existing kindergarten teachers will be considered first for the new teaching positions in the school system.
Each kindergarten teacher will teach a maximum of 15 students.
The play-based curriculum that was recently developed by Island
kindergarten educators will continue to be used. The curriculum is
based on the philosophy that five-year-olds learn through play, and
that they can best learn skills and concepts through active
exploration, discovery and hands-on involvement.
Premier Ghiz
said that while people are excited about moving kindergarten to
schools, many are also concerned about the impact this will have on the
early childhood sector. “Government understands the vital importance of
early childhood education. We are committed to working closely with the
sector to identify and address training needs. We are also prepared to
fund a comprehensive review that will determine the short and long-term
needs of the sector and policy direction to support a vibrant and
sustainable early learning and child care system.”
Education and
Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan said the many
strengths of the existing kindergarten program will be retained. “The
people who work with young children in our province have a great deal
of specialized knowledge and they are extremely dedicated to children,”
he said. “It will be our priority to preserve these strengths as we
strive to make our excellent early learning services even better.”
A Kindergarten Transition Team and nine work groups will begin
immediately to draft action plans in such areas as supports for
students with special needs, teacher training programs and
certification levels, and transition issues for early childhood centres.
Collaborative work groups include representatives of government, school
boards, UPEI, Holland College, Collège Acadie, Early Childhood
Development Association, Early Learning Operators of PEI, CUPE, PEI
Teachers’ Federation, PEI Home and School Federation, Féderation des
parents and Canadian Parents for French.
BACKGROUNDER
In
April 2008 responsibility for early childhood was moved from the
Department of Social Services and Seniors to the Department of
Education to support the development of an integrated early learning
and public school system.
• Also in April 2008 Government
made a commitment in the Throne Speech to bring kindergarten into the
school system following a thorough, careful, and sensitive consultation
process.
• In May 2008 Premier Ghiz appointed Pat Mella as
Public Kindergarten Commissioner with a mandate to recommend the
orderly transition of kindergarten into the school system by 2010.
•
In June 2008 the Commissioner began her consultations which included 25
visits to early childhood centres and schools; seven public meetings;
and 17 consultations with early childhood operators and organizations,
post-secondary institutions, unions, parent organizations, school board
and department staff.
• In July 2008 changes to the age of
kindergarten and school entry were made to allow more children to
benefit from structured early learning environments.
• In the spring of 2009 Government announced plans to add the following space for kindergarten:
• four new classrooms at École François-Buote at a cost of $600,000
• 11 new kindergarten classrooms at Westwood Primary at a cost of $2.4 million
• a new $8.7 million grades 4-6 school at Glen Stewart Elementary which
will allow the existing school to become a K-3 facility.
•
Kindergarten enrolment in 2008-2009 was 1,480. It is expected to rise
to 1,540 next year and level off to approximately 1,450 in 2010-2011.
•
Of the 83 kindergarten programs now in place, 18 are located in English
schools and six are located in French first language school community
centres. In West Prince and Kings County, three-quarters of all
children are served in kindergarten programs that are located in
schools.
• In September 2008 PEI implemented a full
integrated play-based kindergarten curriculum. Research strongly
supports this curriculum because it responds to how children learn best
at age 4 and 5. The PEI curriculum was developed by early childhood
educators. It encompasses a full range of learning domains including
early literacy and numeracy, social studies, science, creativity and
health and physical development. It uses natural situations and play
activities and does not separate learning experiences into subjects
taught in isolation. Play is not simply what children do when the work
is all done. Through play, children make sense of their world and who
they are within it.
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