Ontario Passes Full-Day Learning Act

 

 

April 27, 2010 12:00 PM

McGuinty Government Also Takes Key Steps To Stabilize Child Care And Improve The Delivery Of Children's Services

Ontario
is one step closer to implementing full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds
across the province.

Earlier today, the legislature passed the Full-Day Early
Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010. The legislation included a number of amendments,
such as clarifying the roles of teachers and early childhood educators in full-day
early learning classrooms.

In addition, the government will address the need for child
care centres to have the flexibility they need as four- and five-year-olds move
into the integrated before- and after-school program.

Ontario
is also supporting the child care sector
and will help improve the delivery of other children's services in a
number of ways, including:

• Providing stabilization funding. This will be phased in over the period of implementation, growing
  to $51 million annually at full implementation to help stabilize
  child care centres as four- and five-year-olds move into the full-day
  learning program.

• Providing $12 million over five years to help
  non-profit child care centres make retrofits and renovations to serve
  younger children.

• Transferring child care policy and
  program responsibilities to the Ministry of Education from the Ministry of
  Children and Youth Services to facilitate
  smoother transitions for children from the child care
  system to the education system.

• Minister of Children and Youth Services
  Laurel Broten, assisted by Dr. Charles Pascal, will take the lead to bring
  about integrated services for parents of infants and young children so
  they can access them in a more co-ordinated, timely and efficient way.  

Full-day
early learning is a key part of the government's Open Ontario plan to
strengthen education in Ontario.
It will increase student achievement, build a stronger workforce and help break
the cycle of poverty.

QUICK FACTS

 

• Full-day learning will be offered in nearly 600 schools in September 2010.
• Teachers and early childhood educators in full-day learning classrooms will be guided by the new Full-Day Early Learning – Kindergarten Program.
• Subsidies will be available, based on need, for some families who need help with the cost of the extended-day program.
• The full-day early learning program will be supported by a team of teachers and early childhood educators with approximately 26 kids per classroom.

via www.news.ontario.ca