Strong public support for expanded kindergarten
By Janet Steffenhagen
06-01-2009
Vancouver Sun

Remember the agency that Education Minister Shirley Bond created last year to study her government's plan for expanded kindergarten?

Although the plan later stalled due to costs, the Early Childhood Learning Agency filed its report in April and it was posted on the ministry's website.

The agency found strong support among British Columbians for full-day kindergarten for both four- and five-year-olds. "Some parents were concerned about the idea of full-day programs for three-year-olds," the report says. "However, early childhood educators told the province that developmentally appropriate, play-based programs can have positive results for three-year-olds, as well as four- and five-year-olds."

The report says full-time kindergarten for all five-year-olds would require an extra 1,000 teachers, while a full-day program for three- and four-year-olds would require 4,000 more early childhood educators. Districts would also have to hire teacher assistants, special-education teachers and other specialists, the report says….