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Article by Charles Pascal and Janette Pelletier: Full day kindergarten for four and five year olds in Ontario has many champions – parents, educators, researchers and the children themselves. But it does have its detractors. In this response to The Munchkin Invasion appearing in the May 27/2013 issue of MacLean’s magazine, Charles Pascal, the author of Ontario’s blueprint for early learning, and researcher Janette Pelletier discuss the pitfalls of using disconnected research to draw broad policy conclusions.

The Accord on Early Learning and Early Childhood Education by the Association of Canadian Deans of Education (ACDE) seeks to address the uneven provision of quality early learning experiences by highlighting practices that focus on the learning and care of all children; promoting improved, better connected education for preschool and elementary children; and recognizing educator knowledge as vital to effective education for early learners and their families. It was launched at the Canadian Society for Studies in Education Conference, Victoria, B.C. on June 2.

Excerpt: "Through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Aboriginal Head Start Strategic Fund, the Government of Canada invests $3 million annually in support of initiatives that benefit the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC) program.

Today’s funding announcement of over $1 million will support a project led by the Nunavut Arctic College in partnership with the Government of Nunavut Department of Education to increase the quality and the availability of early childhood care and programming such as AHSUNC; and to establish an approach that will build early childhood development capacity across three regions in Nunavut."

Excerpt: "The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, announced funding for a project to provide capacity to expand the availability of preschool programs for children ages 3 to 5 years of age living in communities across Nunavut.

“We want children to achieve their full potential,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “That’s why we are investing to have qualified early childhood educators deliver culturally relevant programs that prepare Nunavut children for school and a good start in life.”"

Presented by Petr Varmuza and Michal Perlman, ��ݮ����Ƶ����, at the Atkinson Centre Early Years Task Force meeting, May 8, 2013.

Discussing a recent analysis of the City of Toronto's subsidy wait list exploring when children receive care vs. when their parents need it.

Excerpt: "Update and amend legislation designed to improve the well-being, safety, security, education and health of children. Enhance the tools, process and policies that impact how government and service providers deliver programs and services for children and youth."

Excerpt: "The Children First Act supports the health, safety, education, security and well-being of children in Alberta by enhancing legislation and policies that affect children and youth. It is an important step in continuing the process of transforming how government supports the health, safety and success of Alberta’s children."

Premier Kathleen Wynne visited the Early Years Centre at the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office where she highlighted the 2013 Budget's proposed increases to the Ontario Child Benefit, which helps about one million low- to moderate-income children across the province. The Ontario government is proposing to increase the Ontario Child Benefit's annual maximum payment by up to $210 over the next two years. This would raise the maximum payment from $1,100 to $1,310 per year for each child, helping parents with their family expenses.

Excerpt: "Government, stakeholders and service delivery partners have identified opportunities to enhance legislation, tools, processes and policies to improve the security, education, health, safety and well-being of children and youth in Alberta."

Premier Greg Selinger announced Budget 2013 will give families better access to quality child care by opening up to 1,000 new spaces over the next year. "Our government is focused on what matters most to Manitoba families and for growing families that includes better access to good quality child care," said Selinger. "More child care spaces will support parents while they are at work and help prepare young children to succeed at school, while also creating jobs for qualified early childhood educators across the province."

To meet the needs of families in the growing Waverley West neighbourhood, Premier Greg Selinger announced that the province will build an early learning to Grade 8 school in the area that will serve families in this community for years to come.

The province has developed a multi-year plan - now in its second year, Kids and Learning First is improving the future success of our children through a greater focus on the early years, the basics, and safer, better schools. The plan means more teachers, increased support for special education, and smaller class sizes. Included in the Budget 2013: Establish children’s centres so it is easier for families to access support services for their young kids and help them make a successful transition to elementary school—$1.2 million; Expand the ability of teachers to assess the developmental health of their students in critical areas like physical well-being, emotional maturity, social skills, and language—$70,000.