Work. Family. Life.

ECEBC writes to Premier

November 20, 2009
 
 
OPEN LETTER TO THE PREMIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
 
 
Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier
Province of British Columbia
PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt 
Victoria, BC  V8W 9E1
 
 
Dear Premier Campbell,
 
The Early Childhood Educators of BC, writes to you today to outline concerns we have with the state of public policy and spending on programs for children in BC.  While we are more than aware of the deficit facing the taxpayers of BC and the challenges your government faces financially, none-the-less, we believe that some of the choices being made are detrimental to children’s health and BC’s family well-being.
 
While $300 million dollars per year is spent on child care in BC, $200 million of these funds are direct subsidy to low income families.  We know this funding is important for low income families, however it does not build a system, increase spaces to combat wait lists nor does it make child care affordable for families.  Wait lists are at crisis proportions in this province while early childhood educators are leaving the field as they cannot afford to make a living wage in the profession.  
 
Minor capital grants for child care centres have been decreased from $5000 per program  per year to $2000 per address per year. In 2008, and again in 2009, child care programs received child care enhancement funding though BC Council for Families.  This money is now gone.   All of these decreases and changes will impact programs’ ability to operate and parent fees will increase once again.  
 
Provincial offices of the infant development programs and supported child development have been eliminated without consultation with parents and programs.  We are told the MCFD Safe, Strong and Supported plan will address integrated service, but on the ground we have little information.  How will you ensure that children with special needs will receive specialized attention and service without the expertise of these important programs?
 

Finally and the most disturbing, for six years in a row, BC has recorded the highest child poverty rates in Canada.  How could you have allowed this to happen?  BC needs a comprehensive poverty reduction plan which must include the building of a quality, affordable child care system.   What are your immediate plans to address this situation? What is your plan to address the child care crisis in BC?
 
The lack of a comprehensive plan for early care and learning is simply unacceptable.  While we understand that the Ministry of Children and Family Development has completed their early years plan, it has not been shared publicly and therefore we are left in the dark as to the direction government plans to take regarding our young children.  With birth rates falling and baby boomers retiring, business leaders are raising the alarm bell regarding the lack of qualified workers in the province.  The absence of a plan for development of a comprehensive child care system is detrimental to the economy and to helping BC get back to a strong and viable economy.
 
Under the Ministry of Education, the development of all day kindergarten is a step in the right direction.  ECEBC has been supportive of the decision to develop all day kindergarten, but we are now increasingly alarmed that adequate planning and resources have not been directed to its development.  You have a huge opportunity to build a strong, comprehensive and full day system that will allow optimum development of five year olds and allow their parents to work or study.  
 
To do this well, requires adequate resources for renovating existing classrooms, hiring educators who are trained to work with this age group and ensure appropriate resources and equipment are in place to support their care and learning.  While we understand there will be a need for early childhood educators, the dearth of information and consultation is disconcerting.  What is the plan for all day kindergarten?  How will working parents be supported to have their children in all day kindergarten?  
 
The Early Childhood Educators of BC await your reply.
 
Yours truly,
 
 
Vi-Anne Zirnhelt
President of the Board

ECEBC -  2774 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC  V5M 1Y8  ·  P 604 709 6063 · F 604 709 6077 · TF 1800 797 5602 · www.ecebc.ca 

 

CBC News - Prince Edward Island - P.E.I. pre-schoolers could be doing better: report

One in five children entering kindergarten on P.E.I. is not ready for school, says a national child development group.

While that result is the best in the country, the Canadian Council on Early Child Development says 20 per cent of Island children unprepared for the classroom is too high.

"[It] is at least double where we could get it down to, had we done a better job in the early years," said council president Clyde Hertzman.

Hertzman met with Premier Robert Ghiz Thursday to ask for a significant increase in investment in early childhood development.

Every few years the council has kindergarten teachers fill out a survey on their students. Asking things like how aggressive are the children, do they get along with others, are they easily distracted, have they read a picture book before they came to school.

These questions are grouped together to specify areas of vulnerability

• Physical health and well being.
• Social competence.
• Emotional maturity.
• Language and cognitive.
• Communication skills.

The survey also looks at factors in the general population, such as education levels, income, how often people move, and the percentage of families headed by one parent.

If children are vulnerable in any of these areas, this can hamper their learning, behaviour and their well-being. The current survey looks at results from 2007.

Hertzman brought specific recommendations to the premier. He said children would be better off if government extended parental leave from 12 to 18 months, if they could work fewer hours without losing benefits or seniority, and if they had universal access to high quality daycare.

The council figures programs to improve early childhood development would cost $86 million. Hertzman knows sounds like a lot, but he said the investment would pay off.

"We know that if we bring vulnerability down, the gross domestic product will grow over the long term by about one per cent more for every per cent we bring vulnerability down," he said.

With more investment, Hertzman said, children on P.E.I. will have fewer challenges with school, and will graduate better prepared to enter the work world.

via www.cbc.ca

Motion - Support for Early Childhood Centres (PEI)

MOTION
No. 41
Support for Early Childhood Centres
Honourable Olive Crane gives notice that tomorrow she will move, seconded by Jim Bagnall,

the following Motion:

WHEREAS 83% of Prince Edward Island women with children currently work outside of
their home;
AND WHEREAS current child care fees average $140 per week per child and $250 for
infants;
AND WHEREAS parents are facing at least a 30% increase in their costs for childcare
programs as a result of this Government’s policy;
AND WHEREAS this Government has promised a review of the early childhood
development programming in the province but it has not happened and no requests for
proposals to do this review have been undertaken;
AND WHEREAS it is anticipated that many child care centres will close down in the next
couple of years;
AND WHEREAS the Early Childhood Association of Prince Edward Island has expressed
concern for the hardships experienced by those who want to sustain a licenced facility with
certified staff;
AND WHEREAS November 21st is National Child Day;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Members of this Legislative Assembly encourage
the Government to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement short and longterm
sustainability measures in response to the crisis facing early child care facilities across
the province;
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Government remain accountable to
Islanders and follow through with its promise of a review of early childhood development
programming;
AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Members of this Legislative
Assembly recognize the important contributions of the early childhood centre operators and
their hard-working and dedicated workers to the overall well-being of the children of Prince
Edward Island.

Signed by: Honourable Olive Crane

Signed by: Jim Bagnall
19 November 2009
2:12 p.m.

CBC News - Prince Edward Island - Parents desperate for autism strategy

Long wait times in P.E.I. for the diagnosis of autism, up to two years, are leaving parents in a "state of panic," said a protester at the legislature Thursday.

Opposition leader Olive Crane wants to know why pay for tutors is so low when the government has money to hire wine experts. (P.E.I. legislature)

The government is working on a strategy for dealing with autism, but the protesters complained it is taking too long and there has been a lack of consultation. In the meantime, delays for diagnosis and assessment of what treatment is required are causing serious problems for families, they said.

"We wanted to make the public aware that this is what's going on and we need help," said Tammy McQuaid, who has a three-year-old daughter with autism.

"Kids just can't wait that long, and parents are in a state of panic, they have no direction to where to go."

More than a dozen parents gathered at Province House for the peaceful protest.

Last fall the Department of Education hired a consulting team to review the system. The team talked to two people with the Autism Society of P.E.I., but did not consult parents. Education Minister Gerard Greenan said that wasn't necessary.

"Those specialists are very aware of the issues related to the particular children, so we get those reports back from the specialists," said Greenan.

Waiting to see report

The report is now finished, but the government has not released it. Nathalie Walsh, executive director of the Autism Society of P.E.I., lacks confidence in the process.

"We're not necessarily assured that our voices are definitely being heard when we hear of incidents like this, when things are happening without referral to us," said Walsh.

Under the current system many parents are finding it expensive to provide the care their children need. For example, many parents find it necessary to top up the pay allowed for tutors, who are offered just $10 an hour by the province. McQuaid pays an extra $5 an hour for her daughter's tutor.

"I'm lucky she takes that," she said.

"I think she deserves a lot more, but right now that's all I can afford."

Opposition leader Olive Crane questioned Greenan about the autism strategy in the legislature.

Crane asked Greenan why it takes parents two years to get an assessment done for an autistic child, when the standard should be three months.

Greenan said there's a national shortage of specialists and P.E.I. is doing the best it can with the resources it has.

Crane highlighted the low pay offered for autism tutors, comparing that to the recent hiring of two wine experts for the liquor commission at a cost of $80,000.

Greenan responded that parents are free to hire whomever they want as a tutor.

Greenan said the autism strategy would be unveiled some time this fall and perhaps be in place by spring.

via www.cbc.ca

Minister Greenan: Let's get clear on the vision - is it about children or the sector?

On November 12, 2009 the following was in the PEI Throne Speech:

My Government is mindful that the magnitude of this change will have an impact on the early childhood sector. My Government recognizes that early childhood education and care holds lifelong benefits for children – and provides vital support to Island families. My Government is working with the early childhood sector to define the financial and human resource impacts and to identify potential transition measures to help the sector move toward sustainability. In the coming year, my Government will build on this work through a comprehensive review to establish a vision and long-term strategy for the healthy development and well-being of Island children and their families.

In a Press Release from the PEI Provincial Government today the following was stated:

The provincial government announced in the Speech from the Throne that it will soon initiate a wider process to establish a vision and long term strategy for the early childhood sector. “This will bring parents, early childhood educators and partners together to identify what we want for our children, and how we can work together towards a vibrant, sustainable early childhood sector in Prince Edward Island.”

So which is it? 

Are we developing a vision and long term strategy for the healthy development and well-being of Island children and their families or are we developing a vision and long-term strategy for the early childhood sector?  While there are direct connections between the two; the reality is that they are vastly different. 

Clearly, there are significant issues to be addressed with the transition to Full Day Kindergarten.  The impacts to community based child care and early learning programs are vast.  Of course, the Government should be addressing these. It is good to see some small steps in this direction.  That said; it would be a huge mistake to only focus on the needs of the early childhood sector. 

Prince Edward Island needs a comprehensive, broad based early childhood development strategy for all young children. (Not just those who are in licensed child care programs!) This strategy needs to be about children and families - not just the early childhood sector.

Such a strategy should  be comprehensive both in scope and nature. A strategy that is actually supported and implemented by all of the partners; including the PEI government.  We need to dream big…the sky should be the limit for our children.  After all, they are our future.  If we don't invest now we will pay later; there is endless research to demonstrate this.  Such a strategy will need to be designed through comprehensive public consultation, research and planning.  This will take the leadership and support of all who are involved – those who work with children and families, operators, health professionals, community agencies, professional associations, government employees, the government as a whole and the individual MLA's, community members AND most importantly – PEI FAMILIES.  Flexibility and a willingness by ALL to put PEI children and families first will be the key to success….for both the Island and it's children.

PEI Government announce steps to support early childhood sector

November 19, 2009

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TAKES STEPS TO SUPPORT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The provincial government is taking steps to support the early childhood sector as the kindergarten program transitions to the public school system, and many projects are now nearing completion, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan.

       “The most significant initiative is a financial impact study that we are doing to identify and address impact on early childhood centres,” said Minister Greenan. “This is an in-depth expert analysis being conducted by MRSB. It is overseen by an advisory committee of people from government departments, the Early Childhood Development Association and the Early Learning Operators of PEI.” The study will be complete in December. It will include:
•       a detailed profile of early childhood centres including size and type of centre, location and setting, children served, staffing, and programs offered;
•       overall financial impact on the sector by region, size and type of centre;
•       current and forecast demand by region, shortfalls and overlaps by region;
•       options for measures that could assist the sector and individual centres to adapt.
       “We are taking an orderly approach to transfer kindergarten to schools, to address immediate impact on early childhood centres, and to ensure that families have good access to high quality early learning and child care in the future,” said the Minister.  “The information in the financial impact study will enable us to identify the supports that best respond to the specific needs of families and centres.”
       The provincial government announced in the Speech from the Throne that it will soon initiate a wider process to establish a vision and long term strategy for the early childhood sector. “This will bring parents, early childhood educators and partners together to identify what we want for our children, and how we can work together towards a vibrant, sustainable early childhood sector in Prince Edward Island.”
       An accelerated training program for staff of early childhood centres will soon be offered. It will provide employees with full tuition and the opportunity to receive a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education in one year, rather than two. The program will benefit owners and operators of centres by providing them with access to more certified staff.
       A survey has been conducted to determine how many kindergarten educators are interested in moving to the school system. This information will support human resource planning by schools and early childhood centres.
       Department of Education and Early Childhood Development staff are meeting this weekend with early childhood centre staff to update them on the kindergarten transition. Sessions will take place Saturday, November 21 at 9:30 a.m. at la Belle Alliance in Summerside in both English and French. In Charlottetown, it will be offered at Carrefour de l’Isle St.-Jean at 1:15 p.m.
       Minister Greenan encouraged early childhood educators to take this opportunity to receive the latest information and have their questions answered.
       “The transfer of kindergarten to the public school system is a major initiative that represents significant change.  People are concerned right now because they don’t know exactly what the early childhood sector will look like in the future. This is why we are taking time to understand future financial and human resource needs.  We want to ensure that our decisions are based on good information and sound research, that they respond effectively to immediate needs, and support the long term sustainability of the early childhood sector,” said Minister Greenan.  “We acknowledge and appreciate the excellent work that continues in our early childhood centres and we assure parents and all partners of our continued commitment and support.”

Black Ribbon Campaign - Is it really about children and families or the sector?

Today the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI are holding a Black Ribbon Campaign. 

The black ribbons signify the potential loss of early childhood centres due to significant funding cuts as a result of the transition of kindergarten delivery. The Black Ribbon Campaign is an effort to educate the public on the potential effects of this funding loss and to gain an immediate investment of hope from the province of PEI as an effort to sustain quality licensed programs.

In a letter (Download Dear_Early_Childhood_Educators_Campaign ) earlier this week to Educators, the Association stated:

• We need an immediate investment of hope as we transition our services. Specifically we request government’s immediate initial funding commitment to the following:

1. To maintain the 2.9 million dollars of provincial funding, previously committed to the kindergarten program, toward the licensed early childhood system;
2. To conduct an immediate review of the childcare subsidy system with a subsequent infusion of dollars to support families through the expected rise in rates that this transition will bring.

Of course; the sector should be supported in some very specific ways as the Government transitions to a school based Kindergarten delivery system. The PEI Government does need to address this issue; however they must do it very strategically and pay close attention to ensuring that ALL transition funding is directly connected to specific quality indicators with measurable outcomes.  That said, are the ECDA's requests really in the best interests of children and families or the sector?

Will the requested 2.9 million dollars replace the over one third of certified early childhood educators who will move to the school system with Kindergarten children?

What other options are there to support this major transition? 

How do you think the PEI government should be addressing this issue?

What say should Island parents have?

Should the transition decisions be based upon the needs of children and families or driven by the needs of the sector?

Dear Premier Ghiz

Premier Robert Ghiz
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
premier@gov.pe.ca

Dear Premier Ghiz,

Autism now affects as many as 1 in 91 children, but it’s more than children. It affects families, friends and our One Island Community as a whole. Autism impacts more than one government department so a true Island Autism Strategy would see multiple departments working together but current supports fail many families when they need help the most. Families need real results, not another document that government ignores.

• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Health Department decreasing diagnosis wait times from over a year to less than three months.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Social Services Department giving all families the same information about the financial supports available to them to help their child.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Education Department reducing the up to two year wait time for early intervention services because a two year wait is not an early intervention at all.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Rural Development Department ensuring that families in rural areas have access to comparable service levels for their children as families in urban areas.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Innovation Department finding ways to make sure that the people delivering one on one therapy to these children make at least as much in wages as a liquor store clerk.

Think back to the election of 2007. Island families were promised that services would improve and that we would be put first for a change. More than two years later that hasn’t happened and that needs to change now. Island children can’t wait because Autism doesn’t work on a political schedule.

I ask that your government put these Islanders first for a change and work with families to create a better system for the children of today as well as the children of tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Jane Boyd

President, Parents for Choice & Quality Society

President, Work Family & Life Consulting Services Ltd.

Recent PEI Notice of Motions re Kindergarten, education and children

MOTION
No. 28
Working Together to Improve the Services and Supports Available for Children and
Youth in Prince Edward Island
Honourable Doug Currie gives notice that tomorrow he will move, seconded by Robert
Mitchell, the following Motion:

WHEREAS children and youth are the foundation of our One Island Community and our
One Island Future, and as such, they must be loved, protected, and offered every
opportunity to succeed;
AND WHEREAS some of our children and youth are challenged to overcome addictions,
mental health issues, conflicts with the law, and other concerns;
AND WHEREAS government and community organizations offer a range of services
and supports to young people in our province, these efforts could be better collaborated
and integrated to maximize their benefits;
AND WHEREAS youth, their parents and caregivers often find the available resources
difficult to learn about and access, and challenging to navigate;
AND WHEREAS all current and future generations of Islanders will benefit if we can get
children off to the right start today;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all levels of government and community
organizations work together to provide a seamless continuum of services and supports
for children and youth, that are appropriate, timely, respectful, and informed by best
practices;
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that residential services, including the new
residential youth centre, be designed and staffed to provide excellent, evidence-based
supports to these youth;
AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Members of this Assembly
and all members of our community take an interest in and support future collaborative
efforts to develop caring, dignified and beneficial programs, services and supports for
the young people of Prince Edward Island.

Faces of Autism: Day of Action 2009 - This Thurs Nov 19 @ PEI Legislature 1pm

A group of passionate Island parents have joined together to bring awareness to the challenges related to raising children affected by Autism.  An awareness campaign called  Faces of Autism: Day of Action 2009 has been developed. The group are calling on the Government of Prince Edward Island to implement a Provincial Autism Strategy to improve the services available to all individuals affected by Autism on PEI. In recent weeks the Faces of Autism Facebook Page has grown to in excess of 700 fans; so clearly there is increasing and strong support for Island families affected by Autism.

Across PEI families have waited for assessments, waited for treatment, waited for training, waited for accountability and waited for a Provincial Autism Strategy. Autism affects 1 in 100 children now.  Enough talk. It is time for action.

An Autism Awareness Rally is being held on November 19, 2009 at the PEI Legislature. Please lend your support by stopping by the Rally on Thursday at 1pm.  For further information email facesofautism2009@gmail.com

Who: This is a family-led initiative, but anyone is welcome to join in support

What: Autism Awareness Rally

Why: To remind Government MLAs that children affected by autism deserve improved services.

Where: PEI Legislature, 165 Richmond Street

When: Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 1:00pm

No-Nos: No traffic disruption, no kids near traffic, no disorderly conduct, keep it non-partisan, law abiding, respectful & focused on Autism.

Call for Improved Autism Services on PEI - Online Petition - Please Sign

Call for Improved Autism Services on Prince Edward Island

We, the undersigned,draw the attention of the Members of the Legislative Assembly of PEI to the following;

Whereas the most recent research by the U.S. government and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) indicates a prevalence rate of 1 in 100 children are now affected by autism;

And Whereas on Prince Edward Island, Government’s own data indicates that hundreds of Islanders are living with Autism;

And Whereas lengthy wait times persist for diagnosis and treatment and ongoing staffing shortages are having a negative impact on service delivery;

And Whereas the Miriam Foundation’s Canadian Best Practices Guidelines state the time between the referral from a primary practitioner and the beginning of the interdisciplinary assessment should be no longer than three months;

And Whereas the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island passed Motion No. 60 one year ago on November 20, 2008 which committed to address the challenges facing Islanders of all ages and the families/caregivers impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders;

And Whereas numerous studies by government have identified the urgent need to upgrade autism services, including the Disability Services Review;

And Whereas a year later no substantial improvements to services have been made to these services;

Therefore your petitioners request the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island to immediately improve autism services for all individuals affected by autism by implementing a comprehensive Provincial Autism Strategy.

via facesofautism.wordpress.com

At last, a sign of strategic progress for Island children - PEI Throne Speech

Remember this?

Prince Edward Island needs a comprehensive, broad based early childhood development strategy for all young children. Prince Edward Island needs an autism strategy. We need this today, not tomorrow.

We are getting to the tipping point on these issues. Islanders recognize that children are our future and will no longer be tolerant of policy decisions and programs that are clearly not in the best interests of children and families.

How about this?

Prince Edward Island needs a comprehensive, broad based early childhood development strategy for all young children. 

What about this?

There is little doubt that this is a complex issue.  There are no simple solutions and it will take ongoing dialogue.  What I believe is truly needed is a broad based early childhood development strategy for Prince Edward Island that does more than sit on a shelf. One that addresses the full spectrum of early childhood development issues and that is about much more than just child care.  One that is comprehensive both in scope and nature. A strategy that is actually supported and implemented by all of the partners; inlcluding the PEI government.

Perhaps this?

Current research in the early years clearly demonstrates the critical importance of investing in the healthy development of young children. It is time for P.E.I. to develop and implement an updated early years strategy.

Today we heard some good news with respect to long term strategy!

Today's Throne Speech included this:

My Government is mindful that the magnitude of this change will have an impact on the early childhood sector. My Government recognizes that early childhood education and care holds lifelong benefits for children – and provides vital support to Island families. My Government is working with the early childhood sector to define the financial and human resource impacts and to identify potential transition measures to help the sector move toward sustainability. In the coming year, my Government will build on this work through a comprehensive review to establish a vision and long-term strategy for the healthy development and well-being of Island children and their families.

via www.assembly.pe.ca

4-year-old Kindergarten in Wisconsin

4-year-old Kindergarten in Wisconsin

This site has a range of really interesting resources, links and videos regarding Wisconsin's Kindergarten program for 4 year olds.

Editorial - The Guardian - Addressing the needs of Island child care

Addressing the needs of Island child care
Our child care facilities will need help to continue operating during the transition of kindergarten to the public school system.
The Guardian

A Tignish day care operator who expressed concern recently about her facility's future now that kindergarten is becoming part of the public school system has issued the latest warning from the Island's child care sector. The needs of Island child care facilities are urgent, and government must soon outline its plan for addressing them during this important transition period.

The Ghiz government plans to incorporate the Island's kindergarten into the public school system by September 2010. Such a merger was recommended by the province's kindergarten commissioner, Pat Mella, and it's a sound policy. But it won't be an easy transition as kindergarten-age children move from the Island's child care centres into the public education system, and some of the staff pursue upgrading opportunities to move into kindergarten teaching positions in the public schools. This can't help but have a direct impact on child care operators and their ability to continue offering services to the public. Ms. Mella acknowledged this in her report, and warned government to put a plan in place to help child care facilities stay afloat.

Government has said it's working with the child care sector on a plan, but no final decisions have been made. In the meantime, while working groups have been established and a financial impact analysis is being conducted to determine how losing kindergarten funding will affect child care facilities, some operators have already warned they may be forced to close. The above-mentioned Tignish operator, for example, says she doesn't want to close her centre, yet she's worried about the loss of kindergarten children, and some staff.

How often does government have to hear this warning? Ultimately, as the operators say, this concern, if unaddressed, could affect their ability to stay open and provide the child care services their respective communities need.

Government can't allow this to happen. In her report, the kindergarten commissioner made some sound suggestions that could help child care operators manage during the transition of kindergarten. For instance, she said, while conducting the review of the child care sector and working on a long-term plan, government should offer some short-term help, such as one-time payments or grants. As well, she suggested raising the income cutoffs to increase the number of moderate-income families eligible under the province's subsidy program.

Government needs to act on some of these suggestions. It's doing the right thing in working with the child care sector on a long-term plan, but if there are real obstacles threatening the survival of some of these operations, government can't ignore these. They provide much-needed services in their communities and if they are forced to close, it's not just the operators who suffer. So do the families that have come to rely on their services.

From the Journal Pioneer: We must think of the children

November 3, 2009

The Journal Pioneer

Editor,

It stuns me that a program such as the passport to employment program would be considered a viable solution to both the shortage of Early Childhood Educators on Prince Edward Island due to the move to full-day kindergarten and the shortage of qualified staff to work with young children who have been diagnosed with autism.

Clearly it is time for the P.E.I. government to rethink many of the approaches that are being made with respect to Island children.

The policies, decisions and actions of the P.E.I. government are no longer even remotely close to acceptable. Suggesting that people with four weeks of training is a quality solution to educator shortages in the fields of early learning and early intervention is ridiculous.

Yet somehow these programs were allowed to move forward. Even worse; they have been viewed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as a viable option to addressing staffing shortages and to supporting Island families.

I ask this: How much does the future of Island children really matter? Does the future of Prince Edward Island even matter?

If children were truly valued on Prince Edward Island then we would be seeing sound and strategic decisions being made and implemented. Quite plainly, Island families and children are being put at risk due to the bureaucratic carelessness and inappropriate policy decisions.It appears that many of these policies are being made up as we go along. Solutions are being implemented based on desperation, not research, best practice or long-term strategy.

Prince Edward Island needs a comprehensive, broad based early childhood development strategy for all young children. Prince Edward Island needs an autism strategy. We need this today, not tomorrow.

We are getting to the tipping point on these issues. Islanders recognize that children are our future and will no longer be tolerant of policy decisions and programs that are clearly not in the best interests of children and families.

Please contact your MLA today and voice your concern. The future of Prince Edward Island deserves much, much better than this.

Jane Boyd, President,
Parents for Choice Quality Society,

via www.journalpioneer.com