On October 27th Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that Ontario will be moving forward with the implementation of full-day early learning for four and five year olds.

Highlights of the announcement include:

- The cost of the program will be $1.5 billion a year once fully implemented in 2015

- Educators (elementary teachers and early educators) will work together in the classrooms

- There will be extended hours led by early educators available to parents for a fee

- Approx. 35,000 children will be offered the full-day program in September 2010

Letter from Premier Dalton McGuinty [2]

Response sent to the 130+ signers of the open letter released on September 22, 2009 urging the Premier to enact Pascal's early learning report.

 

McGuinty Government Putting Kids And Parents First [3], Government of Ontario

Full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds [4] , Ontario Ministry of Education

Support for today's early learning announcement [5]

 

Full day learning a big step forward [6], The Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario

Early learning investment key to recovery [7], The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

Ontario government moves forward on early learning [8], Campaign 2000

Full-day kindergarten will help families provide a better future for children [9], Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association

Franco-Ontarian teachers welcome proposed model for full-day kindergarten [10], Association des Enseignantes et des Enseignants Franco-Ontariens (AEFO)

Full-day learning will succeed with full involvement of schools, community and unions [11], CUPE Ontario

Full-day early learning is a good beginning [12], The Ontario Public School Board's Assocation

Full day kindergarten an important piece of the childcare puzzle [13], Ontario Federation of Labour

Points of view (selected) regarding the effects of restructuring programs for 4 and 5 year olds in Ontario [14], Shani Halfon

For more information on ratios, a key element in determining quality in an early years program, see CRRU's BRIEFing Note Ratios for four and five year olds: What does the research say? What else is important? [15]