Education Minister Jeffrey E. Lantz announced two Kindergarten committees today. The first committee will continue to build on the work of the pilot Kindergarten Curriculum Committee and develop plans for implementing a provincial curriculum for all kindergartens in the province. The second committee is a new Kindergarten Advisory Committee which will advise and guide the Department of Education with the implementation of the province's community-based, publicly-funded Kindergarten system.
Minister Lantz said the role of the provincial Kindergarten Curriculum Committee will continue and the membership has been expanded.
"In addition to the Curriculum Committee, we have also established a Kindergarten Advisory Committee," said Minister Lantz. "By establishing these two committees, we are encompassing a broad range of stakeholder groups." Carolyn Simpson, Kindergarten Program Administrator with the Department of Education, chairs both committees (committee membership attached).
In September 2000, the first group of children will enter the publicly-funded, community-based Kindergarten system. Minister Lantz said there have been important questions raised on the implementation process to date.
"Registration fees paid by parents and/or guardians for a core Kindergarten program will be reimbursed," said Minister Lantz." We have had some inquiries from parents and guardians who want to know if they should go ahead and register their children for September 2000. Parents will be reimbursed for registration fees already paid."
Monthly Kindergarten fees for the core program will be paid by the Department of Education directly to the Kindergarten operators based on mailing lists provided for the fee reimbursement.
A core Kindergarten program consists of 2.5 hours of instruction per day for five days per week, or the equivalent. Any before or after care costs are the responsibility of parents. Transportation costs are also a parental responsibility. However, there are some instances where students have been bussed to Kindergarten if there is room on school board buses. In cooperation with the school boards, this will continue based on the availability of space.
Minister Lantz said implementation of the new, community-based Kindergarten program is proceeding on schedule. Carolyn Simpson, a Learning Manager with the Early Childhood Care and Education Program at Holland College, was seconded to the Department of Education in May to coordinate the implementation of the program.
"The Department of Education has contacted the 94 licenced Kindergarten operators in the province and requested their participation in a survey," says Ms. Simpson. "Responses to this survey will provide an excellent overview of what types of Kindergarten programs are being offered to five-year-olds. By working with the existing Kindergarten system and ensuring there is broad-based consultation with stakeholder groups, Prince Edward Island will have an exceptional community-based system."
KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Carolyn Simpson (chair), Department of Education; Clayton Coe, Jeanette Scott and Karen Gaudet, Department of Education; Kathleen Poirier, Alberton Elementary School; Kathy Flanagan Rochon and Cathy McCormack, Dept. of Health and Social Services; Anne Miller, Souris Kindergarten; Cindy Rice, Parkdale-Sherwood Headstart; Stella Arsenault, Centre Prescolaire Evangeline; Susan Ashley, Early Childhood Care and Education Program, Holland College; and Willard Moase, Director of English Programs, ex-officio member from the Department of Education.
KINDERGARTEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Carolyn Simpson (chair), Department of Education; Doug MacDougall and Lise Journault, Department of Education; Cathy McCormack and Kathy Flanagan Rochon, Dept. of Health and Social Services; Anne Miller, Souris Kindergarten; Shelley Moase, Fun Time Kindergarten in Kensington; Sonya Corrigan, Leaps and Bounds Child Care Centre in Charlottetown; Inge Dorsey, Summerside; Wendy MacDonald, Savage Harbour; Alice Taylor, Early Childhood Care and Education Program at Holland College; and Ken Gunn, Senior Director of Public Education, ex-officio member from the Department of Education.