$151M cost for kinders is just the start: Economy: Budget fallout continues over all-day kindergarten, community grants
By Robert Barron
Nanaimo Daily News
September 3, 2009

Now that the provincial government has committed to implementing all-day kindergarten during the next two years, the Ministry of Education has begun discussions with the province's 60 school districts to determine which ones will be ready for the new curriculum by next fall….There was no mention in the budget of when, or if, the government will begin kindergarten programs for three- and four-year-olds, as originally proposed. Hanson's budget also didn't indicate which districts will be part of the first phase of the new program.

Parents, teachers and administrators in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district have expressed approval of the concept, but are anxious to see government plans for the new all-day curriculum.

Elizabeth Pennell, the district's early years co-ordinator, said she has been invited to attend a ministry-led meeting on Oct. 2 on full-day kindergarten and she hopes to learn more about the details….

"The program for the province's kindergarten and primary students has been in place for some time, so the basics of what the new program for all-day kindergarten should look like are already there," Pennell said on Wednesday. "When you consider that many five-year-olds already spend a half day in kindergarten and the other half in day care, many kindergarten students are already spending full days in school-type environments with little or no difficulties."….