Kids, Care, and COVID-19: Reopening childcare centres and schools
2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT
About this event
After being closed for nearly three months, childcare centres in Ontario will be gradually re-opening as the province enters Stage 2 of recovery. The Ontario government has stated that childcare centres will ensure "robust safety protocols for the safety of Ontario's youngest learners and their staff". Meanwhile, K-12 schools remain closed across the country, with select schools in British Colombia and Quebec having re-opened on a part-time and optional basis in conjunction with online learning. A hybrid online and in-person education system is likely in the books as K-12 schools reopen in the fall. What will a return to schools look like in September, and what considerations should policymakers be looking at as childcare centres and schools reopen? What creative solutions can policymakers explore to provide flexibility to parents and close learning gaps, while ensuring safe and healthy learning environments for children? How can all three levels of government work together to create policy and allocate resources in a way that best supports parents and children? And, what are the economic and social costs of not addressing this issue appropriately, particularly in the context of a 'she-cession' that has disproportionately impacted women? Join First Policy Response as we convene a panel of policy experts and practitioners to answer these questions.
We will be joined by:
Elaine Levy, Vice President of Child Care and Family Services, WoodGreen Community Services
Monica Lysack, Professor, Early Childhood Leadership, School of Education, Sheridan College
Carol Campbell, Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Moderated by Farah Nasser, Anchor, Global News
More speakers to be announced.
Register for the event here: Eventbrite: Kids, care and COVID-19