“Work to integrate kindergarten into the public school system is fully underway,” says Education and Early Childhood Minister Gerard Greenan.
“The recommendations in Kindergarten Commissioner Pat Mella’s report are charting the course for a seamless kindergarten transition to the public school system. I am confident we are building a system that will effectively serve the educational needs of Island children,” Mr. Greenan said.
Government has already endorsed the general direction of Ms. Mella’s findings which were released publicly in July.
“There is a great deal of work to do so that everything is ready for the start of the 2010 school year,” Mr. Greenan said.
The transition team, chaired by the Senior Director of Learning and Early Childhood Development, Linda Lowther, consists of nine work groups composed of representatives of government, school boards, the University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College, Collège Acadie, the Early Childhood Development Association, the Early Learning Operators of Prince Edward Island, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation, the Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation, and Fédération des parents and Canadian Parents for French.
The transition team covers a broad scope of work on the logistical, programming and human resource levels. A review of the bus safety program and consideration for space, equipment and materials is required for younger children in the school system.
“Kindergarten classrooms are not typical rooms with desks in rows. They have activity centres where children learn through discovery and play,” Ms. Lowther said. “We will be doing everything necessary to ensure that the school system is prepared to receive kindergarten students.”
In her report, Ms. Mella said the Island’s integrated kindergarten curriculum should be maintained after integration with the public school system – and delivered by the early childhood educators who have the appropriate training in this area.
A professional development and certification working group will ensure training programs are developed for educators who choose to enter the public school system, as well as those who will continue to work within the early childcare system.
One of the working groups will address the area of special needs and enrichment; another will identify curriculum and programming issues related to specialty areas like music, physical education, library, resource and French immersion. A professional development plan will also be implemented to prepare administrators, school services teams and support personnel for the arrival of kindergarten-age children to the schools.
To ensure Island families have access to quality, affordable childcare – and that the best of our current early childhood system remains intact – an extensive review of the early childhood sector will be carried out.
Legislative changes are also required as a result of the new direction for education.
“Our goal is to have a system that will help prepare Island children for a lifetime of learning. I have every confidence that we will be more than ready for September 2010,” Mr. Greenan said.