Full-Day Kindergarten Questions and Answers For Parents

• What is full-day kindergarten?
• Highlights of Full-day and Extended day
• Extended day program
• Registering my child
• Selection of schools
• Best Start Child and Family Centres
• Other considerations

Contact us if you require further information at: fulldaylearning@peelregion.ca

What is full-day kindergarten?

The full-day kindergarten program was developed to support the province’s long-term vision of how to improve education for children up to the age of 12.

1. When will full-day kindergarten come into effect?

   Beginning September 2010 full-day kindergarten was phased into 36 schools across Peel. The goal is to have the program fully implemented in all publicly-funded schools in Ontario by 2015-2016.

   To find out which Peel and Dufferin Peel schools are hosting full-day kindergarten programs as of September 2010, visit www.peelschools.org and www.dpcdsb.org

   In Peel, Le Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud and Le Conseil scolaire de district du centre sud-ouest do not have any selected schools for September 2010 or 2011.

2. What is Bill 242, Full-Day Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010?

   On April 27, 2010 the Ontario Legislature passed the Full-Day Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010 (Bill 242, Full-Day Learning Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010), which gives school boards the legal responsibility and authority to: implement full-day kindergarten for four-and five-year-olds, including the integrated extended day programs available before and after regular school hours.

3. Who will take part in the full-day kindergarten programs?

   All children aged four and five years old by December 31, 2010 have the option to participate in the full-day kindergarten program.

4. What will my child learn?

   Children will participate in their own learning through instruction and play-based learning. They will be able to develop socially and emotionally through interaction with their peers and adults. Children will also develop their capacity in language and mathematics as well as engage in healthy physical activities and the arts.

   The Full-Day Kindergarten Program provides children with a high-quality program as a foundation for a healthy and productive life. Children have access to increased socialization with peers and the ability to develop academic and social skills necessary for school – reading, writing and math skills.

5. Who will be teaching my child?

   The classroom will reflect a team teaching model, with an ECE and Elementary teacher for 26 children (13:1 ratio).

6. What curriculum will be used for the full-day program?

   The Ministry of Education has developed a draft Full-Day Kindergarten Program. This draft document will be implemented in year one full-day kindergarten program sites which began in September 2010.

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Highlights of Full-day and Extended day

	FULL DAY	EXTENDED DAY
The two program components	This component will be offered during instructional hours each school day (e.g., 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). In each classroom, an educator team of one certified kindergarten teacher and one early childhood educator (ECE registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators) will work side-by-side to deliver the program.	This component is led by ECEs and will be offered before and after school (e.g., 7 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 6 p.m.). A student’s participation in this component of the Early Learning Program is at the option of parents and guardians, but school boards must offer the program where there is sufficient enrolment to make a program viable.
Is it mandatory?	No. The full-day kindergarten program is optional. In Ontario, children are required to attend school once they turn six years old.	No. The before and after school program is optional for families who need before and after school care for their child.
Costs	The regular school day portion of the full-day kindergarten program is part of Ontario’s publicly funded school system. No cost is associated with this part of the day.	Parents pay a daily fee for care of $22/day in Peel. Subsidies may be available for families in need and are determined by municipalities, school boards and other community partners. The ministry’s intent is that current subsidy eligibility and amounts will be used to determine appropriate amounts for each individual family.
Transportation	Bussing will be offered for students, based on the board’s transportation policy.	Parents will be responsible for getting their child to and from the extended day program.
What about PD days, statutory holidays and summer vacation?	Please consult the calendar of the school board for PD, statutory holidays and summer vacation: PDSB calendar DPCDSB calendar	Where there is sufficient parent demand and capacity, school boards are asked to provide extended services at other times of the year for the four and five year olds (and six to twelve year olds, if needed) under the guidance of the early childhood educators for a reasonable fee.  This may include PD days, statutory holidays and summer vacation (refer to your school board’s calendar for dates).

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Registering my child

6. How can I register my child for the full-day program?

   Refer to your school’s website for registration dates: www.peelschools.org or www.dpcdsb.org. For French schools, please visit: www.csdcso.on.ca or www.csdccs.edu.on.ca/

7. Can I register my child for ½ day kindergarten?

   Yes, but families will be responsible for providing their own transportation.

8. Will the curriculum be inclusive for full day and ½ day students?

   If parents choose to withdraw their child from the full-day program, their child will not receive the full benefits of the full-day program.

9. If I live outside of the boundaries of a school offering the full-day program, can I register my child?

   No. School boards advise that flexible boundary applications will not be approved. Families must live within the school’s boundary. Students are expected to attend their home school as determined by the board’s official school boundaries. A large enrolment is expected for the program in September 2010, and as a result, requests can not be considered.

10. If the program is full at my child’s school, can I place him/her on a waiting list?

    It is best to check with your school board who can advise you on their enrolment process.

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Selection of schools

11. How were schools chosen to host full-day kindergarten programs in September 2010?

    The Ministry of Education provided the following criteria for the Peel District School Board and Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board to use as a guideline for recommending potential schools for Phase One:

    • Availability of Space – schools must have available space without requiring capital construction or renovations
    • Community need using Social Risk Index data – school boards were asked to consider the various needs of all the communities that they serve and how early learning could meet those needs. A portion of Phase 1 schools serve low income neighbourhoods.
    • Impact on existing local child care – schools had to consider the availability of licensed child care near schools or schools in neighbourhoods where no child care is currently available for four- and five-year olds.
    • Student achievement – review of Early Development Index
    • Readiness to implement – ability to roll out Phase 1 in September 2010

12. Which schools have been approved for 2011-2012 school year?

    Full-day kindergarten schools for the 2011-2012 school year can be found on school board websites:

    Peel District School Board

    Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board

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Extended-day program

13. Will my child’s school offer the extended-day program?

    The extended day program will be available before and after school complementing the full-day kindergarten program. Student’s participation in the extended day program is voluntary and will be funded through parent fees set on a full cost-recovery basis. Peel Boards have agreed on fees of $22.00 per day for before and after school care. The extended day program will be offered only at schools with sufficient interest.

    Under The Full-Day Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010 (Bill 242, Full- Day Learning Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010), both Peel District School Board and Dufferin Peel District School Board have entered into third-party agreements with existing service providers to deliver the extended day program Sept. 2010-June 2012.

    PLASP Child Care Services will provide the before and after school care program at Peel District School Board full-day kindergarten sites.

    At Dufferin Peel Catholic schools, three child care agencies will provide the extended day program: Family Day Care Services, PLASP Child Care Services and YMCA of Greater Toronto.

    Refer to the school board websites for specific schools offering the extended day program.

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Best Start Child and Family Centres

1. Dr. Charles Pascal has been appointed the special advisor to Minister Broten for the development of integrated service delivery of early year’s programs, prenatal to 4 years of age. Dr. Pascal will help to identify how best to move forward with the implementation of the Best Start Child and Family Centres.

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Other considerations

16. When do I have to tell my child care provider that I’m enrolling my child in full-day early learning?

    We encourage you to talk to your child care provider or centre supervisor about withdrawing your child from their care. It is customary to provide at least a few weeks notice to your provider.

17. What if I can’t manage my schedule around extended day care?

    The Child and Family Services Act states that children under 10 years of age should not be left alone. Whether through the extended early learning program in schools or through a child care provider, please provide appropriate and safe care for your child. Read this helpful guideline from Peel Children’s Aid Society.

For more information, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Early Learning website.

Contact fulldaylearning@peelregion.ca

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