Work. Family. Life.

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

Canadian professional development opportunities in early learning and care

Below is a list of sites that outline upcoming professional development opportunities for the early learning and care field.  This posting is a work in progress; with more info being added over the next few weeks and months.  If you know of additional training opportunities please leave a comment and link.

British Columbia

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society - Annual Conference Page

BC Family Child Care Association - Events Page

Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre - Training Page

Child Care Options - Training Page

ECEBC - Conference 2010 Page

HELP - Human Early Learning Partnership - Events Page

Alberta

Alberta Child Care Association - Events Page

Manitoba

Manitoba Child Care Association - Events Page and Fall Workshop Page

New Brunswick

Early Childhood Care and Education - Training Page

PEI

Early Childhood Development Association of PEI - Events Page

National

Child Care Resource and Research Unit - Events Page

Canadian Child Care Federation - Events Page

Why investing in the early years is critical...

HELP is pleased to announce the release of a new report entitled "15 by 15: A comprehensive Policy Framework for Early Human Capital Investment in BC".

This report dramatically illustrates why all of us - individuals, businesses, and governments - should care about the real brain drain in BC resulting from early vulnerability.

Moving to full day Kindergarten in PEI...well thought out? Perhaps not.

I am one of the biggest supporters of offering full day Kindergarten for children; however on PEI we are just beginning to feel the real ripples of this pending new reality for community based child care and early learning programs across the Island.  Sure it is good to offer enhanced early learning opportunities (Kindergarten) on a full day basis for five year olds - but is it worth it to do this if many child care and early learning centres are forced to close or become compromised due to a shortage of qualified staff? Unfortunately, this is going to happen as so many of the qualified teachers move into the school system along with the Kindergarten children.  Who is this good for...children, families or communities??

It is important to recognize that the Island has a long way to go in ensuring that all children have access to quality early learning experiences and care in their communities. There is a huge variation in quality from area to area. For this reason alone, the move to full day Kindergarten is of critical importance. It will level the playing field for many children.  That said, perhaps the move to implement full day Kindergarten so quickly is going to leave a wake of early learning devastation as it rolls out.  By removing so many qualified staff from the child care field so quickly there is little doubt that programs are going to be significantly compromised across the Island.  No amount of fast tracking of educators will make up for such a loss of experience all at once.  What will this mean for the field? What will it mean for quality? Even more importantly, what will this mean for the young children who are left in community based early learning and care programs. Perhaps many centres will close.  Perhaps only some will close. Perhaps only the lowest quality centres will close. However - here is the thing; what happens if the overall quality level of early learning and care is greatly reduced across the Island? Given the current variation in quality levels; any move that further compromises the quality of care is one that we should all be very worried about.  There is a very strong chance that this will happen.

Let's be clear - caring for young children takes passion, commitment and most of all a strong knowledge and education related to early learning and child development. This is not something that one can just pick up through a Passport to Employment type of program. Really...is this the way we are going to enhance quality on Prince Edward Island? This is NOT a solution; it is a band aid on already hemorrhaging system.  This is not anything that will enhance quality....perhaps it will  help to meet child-staff ratios - but, again, this is not a solution by any means.

So while the Provincial Government means well for the future of five year old children; I am concerned for all of the other younger children on the Island.  Who is thinking about their needs?  Surely there must be some consideration for these children....and I say children specifically as opposed to early learning operators.  I understand that there is a working group related to the early childhood sector as a result of Pat Mella's report.  Of course, there should be a group to discuss all of the issues that are going to impact child care programs.  However, is this group really going to be able to think broadly and strategically about the best interests of all young Island children when so much of their sector is under attack?

So, once again, I say this....

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

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.  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, 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.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From this morning's Guardian, here is an article by Teresa Wright.  It gives example of how one centre is going to be impacted by these pending changes to the system.  How many more programs will be impacted like this?  What will this mean for children and and families?  What about quality?

Magic Moments Childcare is the only licensed daycare in Tignish, but it may soon be forced to close now that its entire staff is moving into the public school system.
Tracy Doyle owns and operates Magic Moments. She said she doesn’t want to close the centre, but the trained early childhood educators she currently employs are leaving to teach kindergarten in the public system next year and she has little hope of attracting new replacements.
“Rural areas are much different,” Doyle said.
“It’s really difficult to recruit and retain early childhood educators who are trained.”
The pay she offers is not enough to bring trained educators as far west as Tignish, and raising rates is not an option, she said.
“Parents can only afford to pay so much because they only get so much pay in a rural area. It’s seasonal jobs, it’s high unemployment rates — there’s not a lot of money there to pay the staff what they deserve to get paid.”
That’s why Doyle believes she may have to close her doors.
With kindergarten moving into the public system next September and over 100 high-paying teaching jobs up for grabs, Doyle says she just can’t compete for trained early childhood educators. 
“They’re taking the best trained staff from us,” Doyle said.
“My biggest concern then is what’s going to happen to the quality of early childhood programs? I will not and I refuse to run and compromise quality care for children.”
Doyle is not alone.
Magic Moments is just one of several rural centres facing imminent closure unless government offers help to the sector, said Lynn Hogan, chair of the Early Learning Operators of P.E.I. (ELOPEI).
That will seriously jeopardize the ability for smaller communities to remain viable for working parents, she said.
“These rural areas, they could lose their early childcare centres,” Hogan said.
“What is left for these little communities?”
Hogan said early childhood operators are frustrated with the lack of planning for the sector before government announced the upcoming changes to kindergarten last year.
Operators are also frustrated at the lack of information about what will happen in 2010 and whether government will be supporting the industry in the future.
That has many operators in limbo, Hogan said.
“There are people who are just waiting to see what they’re going to do.”
ELOPEI wants government and the sector to develop a comprehensive child-care system to ensure everyone on P.E.I. has access to quality, affordable childcare.
Government is currently working with the sector on such a plan, but no final decisions have yet been made.
A number of working groups were set up as a result of Kindergarten Commissioner Pat Mella’s recommendations on the introduction of kindergarten in the public system, including one group dealing primarily with the early childhood sector.
As well, a financial impact analysis is currently being done to measure the financial implications of day cares losing kindergarten funding and teachers and what needs will exist in this sector in future.
But while the province and the working groups continue to study and debate the issue, operators like Doyle are facing some tough decisions.
“The chances are, if there’s no supports there and there’s no trained staff, I won’t compromise quality care — the option is I may be closing,” she said.
“It’s so sad because I put my heart and soul in this.”

Moms urge Premier to honour promises to BC’s kids

18 communities join provincial day of action against children’s cuts

OCT 28, 2009:—In 2001, Gordon Campbell promised to stand up for BC’s vulnerable children as a priority. Months later, he ordered 23% cuts to children’s programs. In 2005, the Premier outlined five Great Goals – #3 was to “build the best system of support in Canada” for children with special needs and those at risk.

But Mr. Campbell has again forgotten his promise to create a legacy of strong, safe and well-supported children. So on Wednesday, Oct. 28, we’ve invited British Columbians to help us remind Premier Campbell of his promise to BC’s vulnerable children. So far, 18 BC communities have joined the Provincial Day of Action coordinated by MOMs, a volunteer support network for families of people with special needs. 

While BC enjoyed record budget surpluses, waitlists for critical services that support vulnerable children in and out of school grew longer. Now the Premier is cutting millions from core programs, including autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), mental health, infant development, supported child development and Aboriginal programs. Specialized staff are being lost, with one program given just a month to wrap up. Front-line children’s agencies were forced to cut $3.6 million more. A further $32 million is being cut from essential Ministry roles for monitoring, oversight and support to assure children’s welfare and safety. And yet another Ministry re-structuring will further strain the capacity to support vulnerable children.  

There was no risk assessment or advance public discussion of these cuts. Apart from a token increase for one small sub-group (700 children with autism under age 6), savings will not reduce waitlists or improve access for the vast majority – i.e. for tens of thousands of children with special needs who are still waiting.

Provincial organizations for people with disabilities, children with special needs and families have protested the cuts. Professionals represented by the Health Sciences Association of BC strongly denounced funding cuts and the loss of autism programs. Desperate parents have pleaded to save these programs, noting the huge strides their children have made and the strong evidence base for efficacy and long-term savings.

“The Infant Development Program is what saved me,” says Cyndi Gerlach, the mom coordinating a North Vancouver action on Oct. 28. “I want other parents to benefit just as I did.” 

Premier Campbell’s cuts to children’s programs are just a matter of priorities. His revised budget commits $14 billion to capital projects. Alberta spends twice as much on autism despite fewer children and is not cutting programs despite a deficit twice as large as BC’s.  

“Our children can’t speak out or fight back against these cuts,” says Cher Sherwood, the mom who helped organize several groups in Greater Victoria. “It is our job as parents and citizens to speak up for them.”

And it is Premier Campbell’s job to honour his promises to BC’s kids by protected and rebuilding vitally important supports and services.

“We know that British Columbians don’t want to see BC’s budget balanced on the back of our most vulnerable children,” says Vancouver mom Dawn Steele, who will be leading another group on the Burrard Bridge. “We’re urging him to join us by standing up and doing what he knows is the right thing to do.”

 

Details of local actions, local contacts, background info & updates: MOMs: http://MomsNetwork.ca 

MOMs media contact: Dawn Steele: 604 874-1416 h. /778 235-4998 c. or dawns@telus.net 

How the British Columbia Early Learning Framework Links to the Primary Program: a Framework for Teaching

Making Linkages resource was created to enhance and identify the connections that extend from the British Columbia Early Learning Framework to the Primary Program: A Framework for Teaching.

The Making Linkages document is of particular interest to primary educators and early childhood educators who together can create a seamless path of learning for children.

School districts and other partners are encouraged to use the Making Linkages resource to facilitate dialogue between primary teachers, early childhood educators and other early years professionals about the importance of early learning and the continuum of development in and transition to the primary schooling years. Kindergarten teachers are encouraged to use the resource as children transition into kindergarten.

PEI to support training of additional ECE's on fast track basis

September 23, 2009
For immediate release

Provincial Government Introduces New Accelerated Training Program for Early Childhood Educators

Education and Early Childhood Development

The provincial government is introducing a new program that will provide non-certified staff in licensed early childhood centres with their tuition and the opportunity to complete their Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education in one year rather than two, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan.

“The new accelerated program will benefit employees, families and early childhood centres,” said Minister Greenan. “Employees will have an affordable opportunity to increase their knowledge and receive their credentials. Families will benefit from having more trained early childhood educators working with their children. Owners and operators of early childhood centres will have more access to trained educators when the kindergarten program moves to the school system next year.”

The program will be offered at Holland College in Charlottetown and Summerside, and at Collège Acadie in Wellington. It will run from October 2009 to September 2010.

To be eligible, participants must have worked in a licensed early childhood centre for at least 4,500 hours. They must also be able to meet Holland College and College Acadie entrance requirements and be eligible for SkillsPEI funding.

Minister Greenan said the new program will help to address the growing shortage of early childhood educators that is occurring in Prince Edward Island and across the country. “We recognize the great contribution that early childhood educators make to our society and our economy. As a province, we are working with the early childhood sector on several fronts to recruit and retain this essential human resource,” he said.

The new program is a partnership of the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Canada, the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI, Holland College and Collège Acadie with funding of $470,000 through the Labour Market Development Agreement.

Minister Greenan acknowledged the excellent work being done by the Early Childhood Development Association to promote the program to its members. “With the help of the Early Childhood Development Association, over 80 people attended recent information sessions across the Island. We are hoping the new accelerated program will be an incentive for at least 50 individuals to receive their certification in early childhood education. Registrations will be accepted until late September and I encourage people to participate in this valuable learning opportunity,” said Minister Greenan.

For more information on the Early Childhood Care and Education Accelerated Training Program, contact the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI at 902 368 1866.

The cost of developmentally vulnerable children

From The brain drain on the economy may be child's play

By Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun

According to a recent study of kindergarten-aged children commissioned by, of all people, the B.C. Business Council, University of B.C. researchers with the school's Human Early Learning Partnership found that so many children entering kindergarten fail to meet the usual developmental benchmarks that they represent an enormous in-house brain drain on the province's economy.

These are not small numbers. According to the HELP study, which tracked 140,000 students over a decade, just under 30 per cent of B.C. children entering kindergarten are "developmentally vulnerable" -- lacking in those basic skills they need to thrive in school and in the future. The study considers a rate of child vulnerability above 10 per cent as "biologically unnecessary."

"Economic analyses," the study states, "reveal this depletion (in human capital) will cause B.C. to forgo 20 per cent GDP growth over the next 60 years.

"The economic value of this loss is equivalent to investing $401.5 billion today at a rate of 3.5 per cent interest. Unnecessary vulnerability in B.C. is thus costing the provincial economy a sum of money that is 10 times the total provincial debt load."

That loss in human capital could mean the difference of B.C. being in the economic forefront of developed nations in the future or being mired somewhere in the underperforming middle of the pack.

Help us build an online community on Full Day Kindergarten in Canada

Looking for info on Full Day Kindergaten? 

This is the place to visit!

BC, PEI and Ontario are now working on the development and launch of Full Day Kindergarten as part of the public education system.  WFL is working with several colleagues from across Canada to develop this new site and we are in the process of uploading info and resources.  We really need your help!

Help Us Link Resources

If you have suggestions for links and resources please email them to info@fulldaykindergaten.ca.  We welcome info from across the Country.  

Help Us Facilitate Discussion

We are looking for volunteers from across Canada to help us blog about the key issues in each Province and Territory regarding Kindergarten, Early Learning and Full Day Kindergarten.  If you feel that you can assist us with this please send an email your contact info as well as a summary of your qualifications to info@fulldaykindergarten.ca

Please tell your friends and colleagues, blog about this and Tweet about it.  We really need a centralized place that parents and educators can find info and resources easily and can also discuss the many issues related to the move toward Full Day Kindergarten.  Help us build Canada's first and foremost Full Day Kindergarten Community!

Full day Kindergarten to begin in BC in 2010

Visit the online Full Day Kindergarten community that we are building with colleagues and parents across Canada.

From today's Throne Speech in BC

Nothing is more important as we look to our future than the education of our children. Government has focused its attention on expanding university, college and apprenticeship opportunities in the last eight years. Thousands of new spaces have been created for graduating students.

We must now focus on increasing graduation rates and improving student performance from the earliest years.

Government will place early learning and early-childhood development at the forefront of efforts to improve our education services.

Neighbourhood learning centres will become the focus of intensive activities with city councils, library boards, recreation commissions, parents and professionals. Government will work to establish educational and preschool opportunities in the midst of the neighbourhoods where our families live. Together, we can work to centre neighbourhoods and communities on the needs of our families, their children's education and the environment.

Full-time, five-year-old kindergarten will begin to be delivered in schools throughout British Columbia in September of 2010.

The Hurried Infant

Two excellent audio stories on CBC's radio show Ideas regarding baby brain science and edutainment - the education and toy industry. Very interesting and really worth the listen.

Early Learning Challenge Grant - $10 billion over 10 years

The Obama Administration's Early Learning Challenge Grant proposal would challenge states to develop effective, innovative models that promote high standards of quality and a focus on outcomes across early learning settings, and dedicate $10 billion over ten years toward this effort.

Liza Krigman, NationalJournal.com asks some good questions in her recent blog posting:

In order to win funds under the program, states must create a standards-based, outcome-driven system. Is it appropriate to use data-driven standards to assess such small children's readiness for school? How will the federal government ensure that this new program works in concert with other early education initiatives, such as Head Start and Early Head Start? How can early education programs be coordinated with the goals of Race to the Top and No Child Left Behind?

What do you think?