80 city schools may have full day JK by September
October 28, 2009
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Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
About 80 Toronto public schools – or 161 classrooms – could offer full-day kindergarten starting next fall. Toronto's Catholic board expects to have 61 classrooms and York Region's public board expects about 20.
As Premier Dalton McGuinty rolled out details for his government's $1.5 billion full-day kindergarten program on Tuesday – amid calls from the opposition that the Liberals are on a "spending spree" while running a record $24.7 billion deficit – school boards now begin to look at how to implement the first phase.
They have been given until the end of November to submit a list of potential locations for September 2010 that have the space. McGuinty said the goal is to have the program in schools province-wide by fall 2015, and touted it as a long-term economic recovery program – to "build a powerful workforce" – unique in North America.
He warned, however, that cuts to other areas will come, because "we can't have everything."
He also defended the government's decision for the more costly model of keeping teachers in the class all day, each working with a full-time early childhood educator, which bumps the price tag up by $500 million a year when fully implemented. "The programming that we've settled on is not the least expensive program, but it speaks to our desire to have in place a quality program," he said.
Some 35,000 students will be enrolled next fall, and 15,000 more the following September. The province has pledged $200 million for the first year and $300 million for 2011. Provincial early learning adviser Charles Pascal called Tuesday's announcement "historic" and said "people won't fully appreciate how transformational it is for 25 years" in improving the lives, health and standard of living for families. "Extended day" meaning before- and after-school care, will be provided where 15 families ask for it. Kindergarten classes will also be bumped up to an average of 26 kids.
Some have questioned how easy the relationship will be between teachers and early childhood educators, but Pascal said he believes everyone "will play nice in the sandbox." Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, said he expects "a lot of team teaching to go on in the classroom, in terms of the early childhood educator person supporting the teacher and supporting 4- and 5-year-olds."
He said the union did not sign off on the larger class size, but he was reassured that the government will do all it can to ensure classes don't grow larger. In Toronto, public schools that have space or need, or are lagging behind on standardized test scores will be the first to see full-day classes, said John Campbell, chair of the Toronto District School Board.
Janet McDougald, who chairs the Peel District School Board, said she was disappointed the province hasn't kicked in funds for schools that need additions or renovations to accommodate the extra half-day of school.
"It's very probable that where the program is most needed are the areas where we do not have space," she said. Annie Kidder, of the advocacy group People for Education, called the announcement "a really important first step" but said other aspects of Pascal's report, such as before- and after-school care for older children, must also be part of the plan, as well as transforming schools into community hubs.
With files from Tanya Talaga
Toronto Star