Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "New data released today by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) confirms that actions the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is undertaking to support the healthy development of children in the NWT are focused on areas of greatest need. The information was collected over three years using the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a standardized method of measuring readiness to learn that is used across Canada and in several other countries."

"In today's digital world, new and expectant parents are looking for credible information online," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer. "This new program has been customized according to Nova Scotia standards. It provides the information parents need in the online, mobile format they want."

Excerpt: "Ontario has fully rolled out its full-day kindergarten (FDK) program, making it available to 265,000 four- and five-year-olds in approximately 3,600 schools across the province. By the end of the 2014-15 school year, almost half a million kids will have benefitted from FDK since it was first introduced in 2010. With more than $1.5 billion in funding to date, FDK is one of the most significant investments Ontario has made in education in a generation."

Excerpt: "Every board shall, in every elementary school of the board in which instruction is given in grade 1, operate a full day junior kindergarten and kindergarten in accordance with paragraph 6.2 of subsection 170 (1) of the Act."

Excerpt: "To ensure that young children have the supports and opportunities they need to thrive and do well, it helps to know how they are doing and how the environments in which they are being raised are affecting their development both positively or negatively. Having this kind of research data provides evidence for sound policy and decision-making. A number of pilot studies of early development have been conducted in Alberta in the past, but these were limited in size and scope. The ECD Mapping Initiative was the first population-based study of preschool children to encompass the whole province. "

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey is taking steps to ensure the protection of children at regulated child-care centres across the province. Ms. Casey will introduce regulations that will give the minister the authority to ensure no child-care staff would be allowed to work with children at any time if they did not have their child abuse registry and criminal background checks in place.

Province Investing in Better Schools for Improved Learning.

With a continued focus on strengthening child care throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government will increase the toddler rate under the Child Care Services Subsidy Program. Effective September 1, 2014, the program’s toddler rate will increase from $30 to $33 per day for those children aged 24 months to under 36 months who are availing of regulated child care services.

Excerpt: "This document summarizes information on training gaps in the field of early childhood education in Inuit Nunangat. It was developed to inform future investments in early childhood education, as well as policy and program development in the field. While this project did not undertake a rigorous research process, nor an exhaustive literature review, Inuit regional partners were engaged at every stage. The resulting document gives a voice to representatives working on the ground with child care centres."

Excerpt: "2014 Ontario Budget Moves Forward With Plan to Create Jobs and Grow the Economy, Build Modern Transit and Infrastructure, and Help Ontarians with Their Retirement, While Balancing the Budget by 2017–18."

Excerpt: "The Ontario government continues its support for families and children by re-introducing the Child Care Modernization Act, 2014. The legislation, if passed, would strengthen oversight of the province's unlicensed child care sector, while increasing access to licensed child care options for families. In addition, it would allow the province to immediately shut down a child care provider when a child's safety is at risk."

Excerpt: "With wage increases planned for early childhood educators and the provincewide availability of full-day kindergarten this fall, your government is ensuring that every child in Ontario has the best possible start in life. It will implement Achieving Excellence, a plan to take public education in Ontario from great to excellent by continually improving learning, so that young people are prepared to lead in the global economy."