Ryerson Alumni - Summer 2010 - (Page 30)

30 in my opinion A report card for early learning plan E C E A lu m nA T r i s h hu n T bEliEvEs mo rE inpuT f ro m fAmiliEs And C ommu n iT y nEE dE d f o r plAn To suCCEE d C harles Pascal’s report, Our Best Future in Mind: Implementing Early Learning in Ontario, was intended to create positive, monumental change in children and family services. Full implementation of the report would support a firm foundation of high quality, affordable, accessible services available to all Ontario families. In several ways, however, the planned implementation fails to embrace the tapestry of change that Pascal envisions. As a result, there could be a catastrophic effect on community early learning and care programs, as they may not be able to weather the transition necessary to move four- and five-yearolds into the education system. Many inequities have been created by the phase-in process of the full-day plan, the opposite intention of Pascal’s vision that has at its heart equity and access for diverse populations. Without implementation of the full vision, community early learning programs, some of which have served for 40 years, face staff losses and destabilization of funding for subsidized families. There’s another big piece missing from the process: parents, many of whom have served on community program boards, volunteered to create safe areas for children to play and supported their local family resource programs. Where in the plan are their voices and expertise? The early learning program implementation will have a ripple effect on family resource programs, parenting and family literacy centres run by school boards, and Ontario Early Years Centres, funded by the provincial government directly, but implemented by local agencies. The Family Support Institute of Ontario is an organization that has worked with grassroots, community-based programs for the last 20 years across Canada, and is asking to participate in developing a system of early learn- Without implementation of the full vision, community early learning programs, some of which have served for 40 years, face staff losses and destabilization of funding for subsidized families. ing and care that is flexible, responsive and inclusive. It offers a set of guiding principles of family support, produced by the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs, and extensive research and partnerships. Involving the individuals who work in local child and family programs will help to ensure that parents are also a part of the early learning program implementation. It is important that the boards of education and the Ministry of Education begin to examine their parent engagement strategies and view parents as partners in their children’s experiences in the early learning program. Some questions raised by parents and community-based programs include: • How will the change affect the programs left in each of their communities? • Will demands for similar curriculum be made at community-based programs with differing philosophies? • What role do family support programs play in meeting the needs of children who aren’t in the first schools to switch to full-day learning ... will there be more funding made available to enhance programs at a community level until the phase-in is complete in 2015? • If community programs are responsible for the families that can’t access the full-day program, how do their staff respond to increased demands for structured early learning? Will there be more money and resources made available to enable the programs to be responsive and adaptive in this transformation? We – municipal and provincial governments and community organizations – must approach this new system in a thoughtful, well-resourced and reciprocal manner, making practices that work for systems as well as communities, and understanding and engaging families in a way that is meaningful and comprehensive. RU Trish Hunt, ECE ’90, ECS ’08 (MA) is executive director of the Family Support Institute of Ontario. We want to hear your opinion! If you would like to contribute your viewpoint on a topic of your choice, please email us at ryemag@ryerson.ca. istockphoto.com  http://www.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ryerson Alumni - Summer 2010

Ryerson Alumni - Summer 2010
Contents
President's Message
What's New
Ryerson People in the News
Science Revolution
High Fliers
Board Profiles
Serious Games
A Report Card for Early Learning Plan
VP Viewpoint/Alumni Diary
AlumNews
Remember When?

Ryerson Alumni - Summer 2010

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