Full time kindergarten
Moose Jaw early years forum includes Canadian, international experts
Nobel laureate Dr. James Heckman will be among the many experts coming to Moose Jaw this May for a comprehensive conference on early childhood development (ECD).
Heckman, the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, will be the keynote speaker for Imagine Our Future – Investing in the Early Years, May 9 to 11.
The Moose Jaw Early Childhood Coalition is hosting the conference. Among those joining Heckman will be Dr. Stuart Shanker, Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy and Psychology at York University; Dr. Clyde Hertzman from UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership; Jim Grieve, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario ELD; and Dr. Jean Clinton, McMaster University.
Early Years Study 3 finds Saskatchewan, most provinces still not making the grade
Saskatchewan gets points for a putting Early Childhood Education (ECE) under one ministry and having an early childhood curriculum framework, but the province is lagging in other areas, says a new national report.
Early Years Study 3 was released Nov. 22, just days after the death of one of its authors, Dr. Fraser Mustard, a pioneer in the field of early childhood development.
As a feature of the study, the authors included an Early Childhood Education Index that looks at how the provinces are doing. It’s organized into five categories, each with its own criteria: governance, funding, access, learning environment and accountability. The maximum score is 15, and only three provinces – Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba – received passing marks. Saskatchewan, along with B.C. and New Brunswick, received a 4.5.
While most provinces aren’t making the grade, the authors did find some areas of progress. More provinces are expanding play-based kindergarten programs, are combining departments that oversee ECE and are doing more to monitor and report on early childhood vulnerability. On the whole though, Canada, as a country, needs to be doing more to support the early years.
Newspaper turns its lens on early childhood development for series
Early childhood development and education has been on the minds of the Globe & Mail lately.
The newspaper ran a June 8 editorial with the headline “How a child’s breakfast can improve health in old age”. In it, the Globe draws the link between lower income and educational levels with poorer health over time. “It is difficult to overcome the health effects of deficits experienced earlier in life. These deficits can include everything from poor-quality housing and a poor diet, to stressful life events and social isolation.”
Full-day K means more learning opportunities
Increased school readiness, higher academic achievement and improved student attendance are just some of the benefits for a child who attends a full day of kindergarten, according to research findings.
Full-day school for 4- and 5-year-olds equals an economic boost
The study, by the Centre for Spatial Economics, found that early learning, with extended day child care options, can provide a greater economic boost than any other sector of the Ontario economy.
Every $1 million spent on ELC creates 29 jobs. This figure is at least 23 per cent more jobs than the next highest sector, and a third higher than the number of jobs generated by the same amount in construction spending, says a news release from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.
The study found that every ELC dollar invested increases the economy’s output (in GDP) by $2.02. This represents one of the highest GDP impacts of all major sectors.
