Ontario urged to enact early learning report

TORONTO, Sept. 22 - Premier Dalton McGuinty should act now to implement a blueprint for major educational reform that will make Ontario the best place there is to raise a child, say the province's leading early learning experts and champions of publicly funded education.

More than 100 individuals and organizations released a declaration at a Queen's Park news conference today, urging the Ontario government to implement the full set of educational reforms recommended by the Premier's early learning advisor's blueprint for change.

"This blueprint shows the government how to transform Ontario's schools into vibrant, family-centred learning hubs for children and their parents," says Annie Kidder, People for Education.

"This is good not only for Ontario's families today but also for the long-term prosperity of our province. With the economy in the dumps, this is a lifeline that will pay off for generations."

David Crombie, former Toronto Mayor and chair of Toronto Lands Trust, called on the government to make this the last study to sit on a shelf.

"Acting on this blueprint will establish Ontario as a world-class education leader. Families and children are ready. Municipalities and school boards are ready. Educators and champions of publicly funded education are ready," Crombie says. "This is our opportunity to get it right, for children and families today and for the benefit of all into the future."

York University research scientist, Dr. Stuart Shanker, called on the Ontario government to avoid cherrypicking and implement all of the recommendations in its early learning advisor's report - starting in September 2010 with 2012 as the rollout end date.

"This is a doable timeframe," said Dr. Shanker. "35 per cent of our schools already have the capacity to handle the first phase of change and are ready to go."

To download the Open Letter click here...

Don't lose focus on early learning

Toronto Star - ‎Sep 23

In Canada, about three-quarters of women with a child under age 6 are in the paid workforce. Yet there are regulated daycare spaces for only 20 per cent of ...

Teachers' role in full-day preschool plan debated

CBC.ca - ‎Sep 23

The Ontario government is under pressure from several groups as it chooses between expanding the role of teachers in kindergarten classes and enlisting ...

Stick with Pascal's plan

Hamilton Spectator - ‎Sep 23

Premier Dalton McGuinty should be very wary of trying to have it both ways in implementing his government's full-day learning plan. ...

Ontario set to roll out full-day kindergarten

Toronto Sun - JONATHAN JENKINS - Sep 23

Full-day kindergarten is on track to start next year and how exactly that full day will be split between teachers and early childhood educators should soon be revealed, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said yesterday.

INTERVIEW: Pascal report implementation

CBC Here and Now – Matt Galloway – Sep 22

Just a few hours ago, a group of early childhood education advocates called upon Premier Dalton McGuinty to act on recommendations to reform schooling for four and five year olds

Province on verge of giving in to teachers

Toronto Star - Colin Mcconnell - ‎Sep 22, 2009‎

Kindergarten pupils Destiny Williams, 4, left, and Ricki Perreault, 5, read to their doll in class at Bruce Junior Public School on Larchmount Ave. ...

Support for early childhood education plan

CTV News Sep. 22

More than one hundred individuals and organizations are sending Premier Dalton McGuinty a message about education…

'Seamless day' closer

Metro Canada - Toronto - Colin Mcconnell - ‎Sep 21, 2009‎

Teacher Dora Dilic reads to her kindergarten class at Bruce Junior Public School yesterday. The province is close to approving a plan to put kindergarten