Description:

During the 2007 election, the Ontario government announced it would appoint an early learning advisor to advise on the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program to start during the 2009-10 school year. Dr. Charles Pascal was appointed to the position effective February 1, 2008. Dr. Pascal will provide an initial report to the government in February 2009.

ETFO has developed a position paper and a pamphlet that outline the federation's policies and recommendations related to the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program in Ontario.

In this paper, the ETFO outlines

• the benefits of expanding junior and senior kindergarten to full-day/every day;

• the importance of staffing these full-day programs with certified teachers;

• the benefits of locating full-day kindergarten programs in public schools;

• the importance of ensuring kindergarten programs are based on age-appropriate playbased learning; and

• the direction in which we should be headed to realize a more integrated system of early years programs in Ontario.