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October 11, 2023

GNWT updating assessment tools as part of JK-12 curriculum renewal

Excerpt: "The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released plans to update student assessment tools and practices as it works toward implementing the new adapted Northwest Territories (NWT) Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) curriculum. Assessment tools and practices include report cards, standardized tests, and exams. Educators assess student learning by gathering evidence about what students know, understand, and can do with their knowledge."
October 10, 2023

Expanding affordable child care for Alberta families

Excerpt: “Through the Canada-Alberta Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, $28 million is being allocated to support private operators with some of the costs associated with opening new child-care spaces. This expansion supports up to 22,500 new, licensed child-care spaces in high-need and high-demand communities across the province.”
October 10, 2023

Dean's Message to the Community on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

I know that many of us are deeply saddened and horrified by the recent violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the tragic loss of lives throughout the region. As Dean, I know that events in Israel and Gaza have intensified distress among our community — many of whom are worried about loved ones, friends, and colleagues and who have direct and indirect ties to the region. The safety and well-being of all at OISE is my foremost concern.
October 10, 2023

Ontario Delivers 189 Additional Child Care Spaces in the District of Cochrane

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is expanding licensed child care spaces in the District of Cochrane by investing $7.9 million in 2023 to support the implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. This support delivers a significant reduction of child care fees for families by 50 per cent on average, saving families an annual average of $6,000 to $10,000 per child. An additional 189 licensed child care spaces enrolled in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system in Ontario will be created in the area by 2026. These new spaces for children aged zero to five will represent an 11.7 per cent increase of child care spaces available in the community – increasing access to more families across the district."
October 5, 2023

Money isn't everything

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.
October 5, 2023

Money isn't everything

Excerpt: "But it’s a lot. Money is obviously needed to run your life and take care of the people you love. It provides the necessities of food, shelter, education. It can also buy time, such as ordering take-out instead of making a meal. Stress is reduced when you’re not worried about bill payments. Your social connections are sustained when you can meet friends for dinner or buy that present your daughter needs to attend her friend’s birthday party. In short, money buys the things that make life easier and more satisfying but that relationship isn't entirely linear. Research suggests that individual satisfaction with personal earnings depends on how it compares with others. This may be why, despite government efforts to peg the earning of early childhood educators (ECEs) working in licensed child care to a living wage (the wage needed to cover basic expenses and participate in community life), staff are still exiting the workplace, and new grads avoid it as a career path."
October 4, 2023

More supports for home based child care centres

Excerpt: " With an estimated investment of $1,563,000 over the next two years, these grants will help to promote licensing, and improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of licensed home-based child care across the Province. Funding for these grants is provided through the Canada–Prince Edward Island Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement."
October 4, 2023

R.J Simpson: Early Learning and Child Care

Excerpt: "As of April 1st, the average cost of licensed child care for children five years of age and younger was reduced, on average, by 60 per cent. This means that families in the NWT are now saving up to $545 a month per child in child care fees. Families can expect to see further cost reductions until we reach our goal of an average of $10 per day child care."
October 1, 2023

Wage Scale Program

Excerpt: "Nunavut's Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Wage Scale Program recommends a minimum wage that should be provided to ELCC staff. To promote the scale's implementation and the recruitment and retention of dedicated ELCC staff, this new program accepts applications from licensed child care centres for contribution funding to top up their staff compensation to levels outlined in the scale. This initiative provides contribution funding to licensed child care centres serving children aged 0-6.The goal is to ensure that ELCC staff receive equitable compensation for their crucial role in promoting the growth and well-being of all children. The ELCC Wage Scale outlines distinct wage levels across four categories: Management; Early childhood educator; Program support; Centre support."
September 29, 2023

Increased Funding Available to Grow Child Care Service Capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador

Excerpt: "The initiatives include an increase in funding availability and supports for the sector offered through the Child Care Capacity Initiative program, including: $7.5 million in funding to support infrastructure and renovations to regulated child care services availing of the operating grant program, to increase child care capacity by 750 spaces, with priority for the creation of toddler spaces in not-for-profit child care services; the hiring of a Project Manager within the Provincial Government to oversee and support not-for-profit child care capacity projects; and an increase to the personnel budget category of projects operating under the Child Care Capacity Initiative program, which includes an hourly wage increase from $17 per hour to $25 per hour for developmental workers."