The Honourable Jeffrey E. Lantz, Minister of Education, said today that implementation of the publicly funded, community-based kindergarten system is on track and the first group of children is preparing to begin their programs in the next few days.
"As the Minister of Education, I believe it is important to mark this milestone in our province's education history," said the minister. "This September will see the first group of children enter a core kindergarten program that is paid for by the province."
Since the program was announced in the spring budget, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Services and stakeholders in the early childhood community, has been working to ensure a smooth transition into the publicly funded, community-based kindergarten system.
Across the province there are 93 kindergarten programs. It is estimated there will be 1764 children registered in these programs.
The Department of Education has met its commitment to provide advances to operators by the last week of August. Cheques were issued last week to kindergarten operators to cover 85 per cent of the estimated costs for September 2000. Upon confirmation of enrolment figures, the remaining 15 per cent will be included with October's full payment.
Any parents who paid registration fees to kindergartens will receive a full reimbursement of that fee. The Department of Education has requested that operators forward copies of receipts for registration fees. Parents will be reimbursed as soon as receipts are received. If parents have not paid the registration fee, the department will pay that fee directly to the kindergarten operators.
The Department of Education is committed to providing a core kindergarten program to all five-year-old children whose parents wish to register them. A core kindergarten program is defined as 2.5 hours per day/five days per week, or the equivalent.
Carolyn Simpson, Kindergarten Program Administrator with the Department of Education, said she's pleased with the implementation to-date.
"Our Kindergarten Advisory Committee has met four times and the Kindergarten Curriculum Committee has met once," said Ms. Simpson. "We are committed to the continued development and implementation of a high quality province-wide, play-based kindergarten model."
September 2000 marks the first year of a three-year pilot program for publicly funded kindergarten on Prince Edward Island. The Kindergarten Advisory Committee will continue to meet and advise the minister on issues, including equity in funding to kindergarten programs and wages. In addition, the Kindergarten Curriculum Committee will continue to meet and advise the minister on issues, including duration of programs and curriculum development.
"This is a transitional year," said Minister Lantz. "It is our hope to continue to work with kindergarten operators, staff, parents and children to ensure we have a smooth transition year and a sound foundation upon which to build our kindergarten system."