Ontario´s full-day kindergarten program is in a class by itself.With a full-time teacher and full-time early childhood educator working together, it provides a unique staffing model and two-year curriculum for the province´s 4- and 5-year-olds.But now, the Ford government is eyeing potential changes, raising concerns among experts who say the program - while costly, at $1.5 billion a year - is worth the price.`It would be extremely disruptive to change the model - disruption for education, for children, for families,` said Rachel Langford, a professor in the school of early childhood studies at Ryerson University.The staffing, which has been in place since full-day kindergarten was rolled out almost a decade ago, has made Ontario `a leader, a visionary in this regard, and that, from our perspective, is very positive,` said Langford, who at one time was a kindergarten teacher.Other provinces with full-day kindergarten typically use a teacher-only model.Read more:Â Ontario commits to keep full-day kindergarten in place for the next school yearDoug Ford government says full-day learning is here to stay in OntarioFord shouldn´t mess with success of full-day kindergarten programLate last month, Education Minister Lisa Thompson launched consultations, asking unions and trustee associations about the `implications of the present two-educator model` for students, working conditions as well as `value for money` - and whether other options are available - as the government faces a deficit of up to $14.5 billion.Last month, she and Premier Doug Ford caused an uproar after they wouldn´t commit to keeping full-day kindergarten. They later backtracked, affirming they would continue with what they referred to as `full-day learning.`The full-day program was introduced by the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty. The original report on its design had recommended teachers work a half-day, with early childhood educators (ECEs) covering the rest of the school day as well as af ...
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