SPOTLIGHT ON EARLY LEARNING IN ONTARIO

June 2009

Atkinson Foundation e-bulletin

Featuring news, views and updates

from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation

and its partners.

IN THIS SPOTLIGHT... 

A word from ACF’s President…

Spotlight on Early Learning:  Charles Pascal releases “With our Best Future in Mind”…

What people are saying about the report…

Early Learning in the news…

Making your voice heard…

Scroll down for more...

THE EARLY LEARNING ADVISOR’S REPORT

Dear Friends and Colleagues: 

Charles Pascal, Executive Director of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, released his Early Learning Advisor's report to the Premier of Ontario earlier this week.  For the past 18 months Charles has played a key role in advancing early learning and care in ontario, a cause that is central to the Foundation's vision for progress.  In his role as Early Learning Advisor, Charles traveled the province to tap into the best knowledge and experience of parents, experts, providers and advocates, many of whom have been valued partners of the Foundation and have helped till the soil for hopeful gains.  We look forward to continuing to work with our partners towards universal early learning and care for all children and families in Ontario.

Sincerely,

Peter A. Armstrong

President

The Atkinson Charitable Foundation

Charles E. Pascal

In partnership with parents, full-day learning will provide Ontario children with high quality programs that help lay the foundation for a healthy and productive life. I have submitted my report, With Our Best Future in Mind to the Premier on how to implement full day learning for 4- and 5-year-olds.

I encourage you to read the report and the brochure which provides a summary of my recommendations. In addition you may be interested in reviewing the working assumptions that guided my thinking throughout the development of the report.  More…

ELA REPORT: WHAT’S BEING SAID…

Our Best Future in Mind Applauded

Ontario Public School Boards’ Association

“Full-day learning for four- and five-year old children is a commitment to the children of the province to provide a solid foundation for student success throughout their school years.”  More…

New Early Years Plan Strengthens Ontario Education

Ontario Secondary Scholl Teachers Federation

“Every parent and guardian wants their child to experience success and this blended model guarantees a rich and promising start for all students.” More…

Full-Day Learning Report Hits Core Issues

Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario

“This report really sheds light on the challenges that exist and presents the steps necessary to move toward a stronger system.” More…

ELA Recommendations Would Benefit Families and Municipalities

Association of Municipalities of Ontario

“A strong early learning and child care system supports a strong and competitive economy.”  More…

OMSSA Pleased with Early Learning Report

Ontario Municipal Social Services Association

“The new recommendations reiterate the central role of municipalities  in moving forward, including developing a shared accountability framework with the Province.” More…

CUPE Ontario commends Dr. Charles Pascal on the release of his report

Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario

“Points a way forward to the implementation of full-day learning for Ontario's four- and five-year-old children.”  More…

ELA Report Provides Hopeful Vision for Ontario’s Children and Families

Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

“The report is a very important move towards universal and publically funded early learning programs for all children in Ontario.”  More…

Ontario Pointed in the Right Direction on Early Learning

Ontario Campaign 2000

“We are pleased that the first phase includes low income neighbourhoods in support of the goals of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.”  More…

Ontario’s Plan Applauded for Supporting Healthy Children AND Working Families

Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada:

“CCAAC calls on the federal government to follow Ontario’s lead and end the false divide it has created by indicating that only provinces and territories are accountable for early learning and care.”  More…

Click here for more quotes…

ELA REPORT IN THE NEWS:  HIGHLIGHTS

Early Learning: The Agenda Interview

TVO - June 16  (Video runs 21:12).

Charles Pascal is Steve Paikin’s guest on TVO’s Agenda

All-Day Kindergarten

CBC The Current – June 17

Interview with Charles Pascal the Special Advisor on Early Learning for Ontario. It was his report that proposed the new early learning program.

Premier finds a legacy with early learning?

Toronto Star, Jim Coyle - June 17

In case the premier is musing now and then on the long lens of history, it's a plan bold and transformational enough to ensure that he leaves a mark.

Betting on the kids

Globe and Mail, Ken Battle and Sherri Torjman – June 17

High-quality early learning and child-care services are not just social policy - they're also core elements of economic policy because they invest in the critical first years of human capital development and enable parents to work or study.

Pascal's Report At Work

CBC Metro Morning (Audio runs 8:02) – June 16

Andy Barrie spoke with Jonathan Root, he is the principal at Bruce Junior Public School, and with Eamonn Nolan, he has two children attending the school.

Full-day learning deserves support

Toronto Star - ‎Jun 16

For Ontario to have the prosperous future we all want, we need all our children to have the best possible start in life. Yet, more than one quarter of our ...

Local boards look forward to fully funded, full-day classes for 4 ...

Sault Star - ‎Jun 16, 2009‎

Local school boards say they would welcome a move to funded full-time kindergarten and the expansion of daycare within schools. A report presented Monday by ...

Both boards applaud full-day kindergarten

Peterborough Examiner - ‎Jun 16, 2009‎

Both local school boards are applauding a provincial recommendation for all-day kindergarten for children as young as four. Premier Dalton McGuinty said he ...

McGuinty chides teachers over response to all-day kindergarten

Ottawa Citizen - ‎Jun 15

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty rebuked elementary teachers' unions Monday for their response to a new plan for full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds.

Full-day kindergarten comes into play

Globe and Mail - ‎Jun 15, 2009‎

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's self-proclaimed role as the education premier will be tested as he embarks on an integrated full-day kindergarten and ...

EARLY LEARNING:  A Star Special on a new vision for Ontario Children

Read news, analysis and resources on www.parentcentral.ca  

EARLY LEARNING:  MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

SUPPORTING EARLY LEARNING IN ONTARIO:

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario has set up a TAKE ACTION page with ideas about how to show support for a new Early Learning vision for Ontario...

Visit the AECEO TAKE ACTION page to learn more:

http://www.aeceo.ca/content/support-early-learning-advisors-report.html

ACF E-BULLET LIST OPTIONS: http://atkinsonfoundation.com/email_list