Atkinson Centre for Society & Child Development
Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development
Established in 2000, the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development strives to mobilize the best available evidence to strengthen the quality of early childhood practice and inform public policy and discourse. In partnership with George Brown College's School of Early Childhood, the Centre provides training in policy research to undergraduate and graduate students. The Centre is guided by an understanding of the reciprocal nature of research, policy and practice and works in collaboration with advocates and researchers across Canada.
Spotlight
The role of Junior Kindergarten in improving child mental health outcomes
The Atkinson Centre produces a weekly e-Newsletter, sharing Events, News Items, and Research & Resources related to Early Childhood Education and Family Support.
CWELCC Tracker
These documents monitor the development of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care agreements. The page for each province and territory contains links to the agreements held with the Government of Canada; highlights the deliverables and links to government announcements organized by dates. Updates are provided as they become available.
Early Childhood Education Report 2023, OUT NOW!!
The Early Childhood Education Report (ECER), established in 2011, is released every three years to evaluate provincial/territorial early years services.
Most Recent Policy Monitor Updates
The Policy Monitor tracks Federal, Provincial and Territorial early childhood policy initiatives, developments and announcements.
Events
Empowering Educators: Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce, May 9, 2025
Join us for the 21st Annual Summer Institute on Early Childhood Development, a dynamic gathering dedicated to strengthening the early childhood education (ECE) workforce. This conference brings together educators, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and advocates from across Canada to explore innovative strategies for fostering a sustainable ECE workforce while addressing critical issues of equity and access.
WEBINAR: Evaluation of the New Ontario Funding Formula, February 12, 2025
Gordon Cleveland, an economist and Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough, has dedicated over 30 years to researching the economics of early childhood education, with a focus on policy design. A widely published expert, he joins us to share his perspective on Ontario's new funding formula.
